Compositions and Methods for Silencing Gene Expression

ABSTRACT

A method of introducing naked dsRNA into a seed is provided. The method comprising contacting the seed with the naked dsRNA under conditions which allow penetration of the dsRNA into the seed, thereby introducing the dsRNA into the seed.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to methods of introducing dsRNA to plant seeds for modulating gene expression.

With a growing world population, increasing demand for food, fuel and fiber, and a changing climate, agriculture faces unprecedented challenges. Development of plants with improved traits is highly desirable, with some of the major traits that are of major interest to farmers and seed companies include improved abiotic stress tolerance, fertilizer use efficiency, disease resistance, yield and more.

Plant trait improvement is typically performed by either genetic engineering or classical breeding. New methods for trait improvement through specific gene alteration are highly desirable. These include methods for over-expression of genes or gene silencing. A powerful technique for sequence-specific gene silencing is through RNA interference (RNAi). First discovered in the nematode C. elegans (Fire et al 1998, Nature, 391:806-811), RNAi is a mechanism in which expression of an individual gene can be specifically silenced by introducing a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is homologous to the selected gene, into cells. Inside the cell, dsRNA molecules are cut into shorter fragments of 21-27 nucleotides by an RNase III-related enzyme (Dicer). These fragments, called small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), get incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). After additional processing, the siRNAs are transformed into single-stranded RNAs that act as guide sequences to eventually cleave target messenger RNAs. By using RNAi to specifically silence relevant target genes, one can alter basic traits of an organism. Specifically for plants, it holds incredible potential for modifications that may lead to increased stress resistance and better crop yield.

In plants, RNAi is typically performed by producing transgenic plants that over-express a DNA fragment that is transcribed to produce a dsRNA. This dsRNA is then processed into siRNAs that mediate the cleavage and silencing of target genes.

The major technical limitation for this technology is that many important plant crop species are difficult or impossible to transform, precluding the constitutive expression of constructs directing production of dsRNA. Moreover, questions concerning the potential ecological impact of virus-resistant transgenic plants have so far significantly limited their use [Tepfer, 2002, Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 40, 467-491].

An additional hurdle for obtaining transgenic plants is attributed to the difficulty of having the transformation and regeneration events occur in the same cell types.

Therefore the development of a method for obtaining transformed seeds which is independent of the methods inherent to tissue culture procedures is at the cutting edge of plant molecular biology research.

Additional background art includes:

U.S. 20040055041 teach seed transformation by making use of the sonication system followed by infection by Agrobacterium.

Chee et al. 1989 Plant Physiol. 91:1212-1218 teach soybean transformation by inoculating the plumule, cotyledonary node and adjacent cotyledon tissues of germinating soybean using an Agrobacterium that contained a binary vector expressing a transgene.

Additional related background art: WO2011/001434, U.S. 20080022423, WO 2011112570, WO 2007/080127 WO 2007/080126, U.S. 20060272049, U.S. 2010068172, U.S. 20070250947, WO9926467, U.S. 20030154508, WO 02/14472, U.S. 20030150017, U.S. 201000154083.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of introducing naked dsRNA into a seed, the method comprising contacting the seed with the naked dsRNA under conditions which allow penetration of the dsRNA into the seed, thereby introducing the dsRNA into the seed.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous naked dsRNA, wherein the seed is devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of the dsRNA in a plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous naked dsRNA.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA being present at a similar concentration in an embryo and an endosperm of the seed.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA being spatially distributed in an embryo and an endosperm of the plant seed in a spatial distribution that differs from a spatial distribution of the exogenous dsRNA in a seed derived from a transgenic plant that recombinantly expresses the exogenous dsRNA.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA, wherein a concentration ratio of the exogenous dsRNA to siRNA maturing therefrom is higher in the seed as compared to a transgenic seed recombinantly expressing the exogenous dsRNA.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA, wherein the plant seed is devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of the exogenous dsRNA, wherein a spatial distribution of the exogenous dsRNA and/or siRNA maturing therefrom is altered in the seed as compared to same in a transgenic seed recombinantly expressing the exogenous dsRNA.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a plant or plant part comprising an exogenous naked dsRNA and being devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of the dsRNA in the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a seed containing device comprising a plurality of the seeds.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a sown field comprising a plurality of any of the seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises drying said seed following said contacting.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises growing said plant under abiotic or biotic stress following said generating.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the naked dsRNA is designed for down regulating expression of a gene of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a plant the method comprising:

(a) providing any of the seeds; and

(b) germinating the seed so as to produce the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of modulating gene expression, the method comprising:

(a) contacting a seed of a plant with a naked dsRNA, under conditions which allow penetration of the dsRNA into the seed, thereby introducing the dsRNA into the seed; and optionally

(b) generating a plant of the seed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the naked dsRNA is designed for down regulating expression of a gene of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the naked dsRNA is designed for down regulating expression of a gene of a viral pathogen.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the penetration is to an endosperm and alternatively or additionally an embryo of the seed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the naked dsRNA does not integrate into the genome of the seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the conditions result in presence of the dsRNA in the plant for at least 10 days following germination.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of inhibiting expression of a target gene in a plant virus, the method comprising providing to the plant virus the plant or plant part, thereby inhibiting expression of a target gene in the plant virus.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises observing reduced infectability or replicability of the viral pathogen following the providing.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a kit for introducing naked dsRNA to seeds comprising;

(i) naked dsRNA; and

(ii) a priming solution.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the naked dsRNA and the priming solutions are comprised in separate containers.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the dsRNA comprises siRNA.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the dsRNA comprises siRNA and dsRNA.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the contacting is effected by inoculating the seed with the dsRNA.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises priming the seed prior to the contacting.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the priming is effected by:

(i) washing the seed prior to the contacting; and

(ii) drying the seed following step (i).

According to some embodiments of the invention, the washing is effected in the presence of double deionized water.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the washing is effected for 2-6 hours.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the washing is effected at 4-28° C.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the drying is effected at 25-30° C. for 10-16 hours.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the contacting is effected in a presence of the naked dsRNA at a final concentration of 0.001-100 μg/μl.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the contacting is effected in a presence of the naked dsRNA at a final concentration of 0.001-0.5 μg/μl.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises treating the seed with an agent selected from the group consisting of a pesticide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a fertilizer, a coating agent and a coloring agent following the contacting.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the treating comprises coating the seed with the agent.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seed is free of an agent selected from the group consisting of a pesticide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a fertilizer, a coating agent and a coloring agent.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the dsRNA is for downregulating expression of a coding gene.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the dsRNA is for downregulating expression of a non-coding gene.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seed is of the Viridiplantae super-family.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the conditions allow accumulation of the dsRNA in the endosperm and alternatively or additionally embryo of the seed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a concentration of the naked dsRNA is adjusted according to a parameter selected from the group consisting of, seed size, seed weight, seed volume, seed surface area, seed density and seed permeability.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the contacting is effected prior to breaking of seed dormancy and embryo emergence.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seed is a primed seed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seed or the plant comprises RNA dependent RNA polymerase activity for amplifying expression of the dsRNA.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seed is a hybrid seed.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a seed obtainable according to the methods described herein.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A-C show the stability of dsRNA for CGMMV in rice seedlings up to 3 weeks post germination. FIG. 1A: Identification of dsRNA by RT-PCR, 1 week post germination. Top panel: L—100 bp DNA ladder, lanes 1-6: untreated control seeds, 7-16: treated seeds, lane 17: negative control (mix) and lane 18: positive control (plasmid). Bottom panel serves as a positive control for the cDNA quality, PCR for the housekeeping gene—tubulin. FIG. 1B: Identification of dsRNA by PCR, 2 weeks post germination. Top panel: L—DNA ladder, 1-2 control seeds, 3-12 dsRNA-treated seeds, 13—positive control (plasmid), 14-15 negative controls (DDW). Bottom panel shows results for tubulin housekeeping gene. FIG. 1C: stability of dsRNA 3 weeks post germination. Top panel: L—DNA ladder, 1-4 control seeds, 5-9 dsRNA-treated seeds, 11—positive control (plasmid) and 12 is negative control (mix). Bottom panel shows results for tubulin housekeeping gene.

FIGS. 2A-B show the identification of CGMMV dsRNA by RT-PCR on tomato and sorghum seedlings, 10 days and 4 weeks after germination, respectively. FIG. 2A: CGMMV dsRNA is stable in tomato seedlings 10 days after germination. L—DNA ladder, 1-4: control seeds, 5-17: dsRNA-treated seeds, 18-19: negative controls (DDW), 20—PCR positive control (plasmid). FIG. 2B: CGMMV dsRNA is stable in sorghum seedlings 4 weeks after germination. 1-2: control seeds, 3-6: treated seeds, 7—negative control (DDW).

FIG. 3 shows that CGMMV-derived dsRNA does not integrate into the genome of treated rice seeds, 5 weeks after germination. Three different DNA PCR reactions were carried out: (1) Tubulin PCR (lanes 1-5); 1-2 are control plants, 3-4 are dsRNA-treated plants, 5 is a negative control (ddW), (2) First PCR for DNA CGMMV (lanes 6-10); 6-7 are control plants, 8-9 are dsRNA-treated plants, 10 is a positive control (plasmid carrying the CGMMV sequence), (3) Second PCR for DNA CGMMV (lanes 11-16); 11-12 are control plants, 13-14 are dsRNA-treated plants, 15 is a negative control (ddW), and 16 is a positive control (plasmid carrying the CGMMV sequence). L—100 bp DNA ladder.

FIGS. 4A-C show the stability of GUS dsRNA in corn seedlings by RT-PCR, 7 and 15 days after germination. FIG. 4A: GUS dsRNA is stable in shoots of corn seedlings 1 week after germination. L is DNA ladder, 1-5 are control plants, 6-8 and 11-18 are dsRNA treated plants, 9 is a negative control (ddW) and 10 is a positive control (plasmid). FIG. 4B: GUS dsRNA is stable in corn seedlings' roots 1 week post germination. 1-5 are control plants, 6-10 are dsRNA treated plants, 11 is a negative control (ddW), and 12 is a positive control (plasmid). FIG. 4C: GUS dsRNA is stable in corn seedlings' roots 15 days post germination. L—DNA ladder, 1 is a positive control (plasmid), 2 is a control plant, 3 is a negative control (ddW) and 4 is a dsRNA-treated plant.

FIGS. 5A-B show that GUS dsRNA does not integrate into the genome of treated corn seeds 1 week after germination. Upper gel shows a DNA PCR on GUS gene: 1-3 are control plants, 4-6 are dsRNA treated plants and 7 is a positive control (plasmid). Bottom gel is a positive control for DNA extraction showing a DNA PCR on ubiquitin gene: 1-3 are control plants, 4-6 are dsRNA treated plants and 7 is a negative control (ddW).

FIG. 6 shows gel electrophoresis analysis of siGLO before experiment. L—100 bp ladder, 1-5 μl of 2 μM siGLO solution, 2-15 μl of 2 μM siGLO solution, 3-30 μl of 2 μM siGLO solution. Bands can be seen that correspond with the expected size of 20-24 bp of the fluorescent siRNA molecules.

FIGS. 7A-C are images showing penetration of fluorescent siRNA molecules to various plant seeds. Seeds treated with fluorescent siRNA are shown on the two left images, and the untreated control seeds are shown on the two right images. Fluorescent images were taken 24 hours after seed treatment with siRNA at 2 μM final concentration. FIG. 7A—Arabidopsis seeds seen under 10× objective magnification, FIG. 7B—rice seeds seen under 5× objective magnification, FIG. 7C—tomato seeds seen under 5× objective magnification.

FIGS. 8A-C show rice seeds 24 hours following treatment with siGLO dsRNA. The figures show treated seeds on the left of each image alongside control untreated seeds, at various magnifications.

FIGS. 9A-F are light and fluorescent images of sliced rice seeds 48 hours following treatment with siGLO dsRNA. siGLO-treated and control rice seeds were sliced to view the interior distribution of the fluorescent dsRNA using a fluorescent binocular. FIG. 9A—Light modality of 4 rice seeds: 2 siGLO-treated seeds at the bottom and 2 untreated seeds at the top. FIG. 9B—Fluorescence image of seeds seen in FIG. 9A. FIG. 9C—Zoomed in fluorescence image of a siGLO-treated rice seed (seen on bottom left of FIGS. 9A and B). FIG. 9D—Zoomed in fluorescence image of an untreated rice seed. FIG. 9E—Zoomed in fluorescence image of a siGLO-treated seed exhibiting a more absolute staining pattern compared to the seed seen in FIG. 9C. FIG. 9F—Zoomed in fluorescence image of an untreated seed for comparison to FIG. 9E.

FIGS. 10A-E are fluorescent images of sliced tomato seeds 48 hours following treatment with siGLO dsRNA. siGLO-treated and control tomato seeds were sliced to view the interior distribution of the fluorescent dsRNA using a fluorescent binocular. FIG. 10A—Fluorescence image of the outside surface of an untreated tomato seed. FIG. 10B—Fluorescence image of the outside surface of a siGLO-treated tomato seed. FIG. 10C—Zoomed in image of a section (see box on image of FIG. 10B) of the outside surface of a siGLO-treated tomato seed. FIG. 10D—Fluorescence image of the inside surface of a sliced untreated tomato seed. FIG. 10E—Fluorescence image of the inside surface of a sliced siGLO-treated tomato seed, the outline of the embryo is clearly seen.

FIGS. 11A-H are fluorescent images of sliced cucumber seeds 48 hours following treatment with siGLO dsRNA. siGLO-treated and control cucumber seeds were sliced to view the interior distribution of the fluorescent dsRNA using a fluorescent binocular. FIG. 11A—Fluorescence image of the inside surface of a siGLO-treated cucumber seed. FIG. 11B—Fluorescence image of the inside surface of an untreated cucumber seed. FIGS. 11C-E—Zoomed in images of the anterior, middle and posterior (respectively) sections of the inside surface of a siGLO-treated cucumber seed. The embryonic outline can be seen in the middle section (FIG. 11D). FIGS. 11F-H—Zoomed in images of the anterior, middle and posterior (respectively) sections of the inside surface of an untreated cucumber seed.

FIGS. 12A-D are fluorescent images of sliced seeds of various plant species, including bean, tomato, sorghum and wheat, 48 hours following treatment with siGLO dsRNA. siGLO-treated and control seeds were sliced to view the interior distribution of the fluorescent dsRNA using a fluorescent binocular. Light images were also taken for each seed and are shown alongside the fluorescent image of the seed for reference. dsRNA-treated seeds are shown in the two left images and untreated control seeds are shown in the two right images. FIG. 12A shows two examples of dsRNA-treated and control bean seeds. FIG. 12B shows dsRNA-treated and control tomato seeds. FIG. 12C shows dsRNA-treated and control sorghum seeds. FIG. 12D shows dsRNA-treated and control wheat seeds.

FIG. 13 shows a time-course siGLO-treatment results on rice seeds. The effect of incubation time with siGLO dsRNA on fluorescence intensity, indicating quantity and quality of dsRNA penetration, was tested. Control seeds that were left untreated (1), were imaged along with seeds treated with siGLO dsRNA for four different incubation times; 10 min (2), 3.5 hours (3), 5.5 hours (4), and 24 hours (5).

FIGS. 14A-D show silencing the PDS-1 gene in rice by a dsRNA/siRNA mixture. FIG. 14A-Analysis of the PDS-1 dsRNA on 2% agarose gel. From left to right: 100 bp, dsDNA and dsRNA product 1, dsDNA and dsRNA after DNase turbo, dsDNA and dsRNA after DNase turbo and RNaseIII, space and the same for product 2. FIG. 14B—A picture of germinated rice seeds 5 days after treatment, control on the left. FIG. 14C—A picture of germinated rice seeds 7 days after treatment, control on the bottom. FIG. 14D-A Picture of planted rice seeds 14 days after treatment, the red x represents dead seedling, control on the left.

FIG. 15 is a photograph showing that PDS-1 silencing treatment results in chlorophyll bleaching and growth inhibition. Control plants (on left) display normal coloring and growth rate while PDS-silenced plants (on right) look paler in color and smaller in size, indicating signs of chlorophyll bleaching and growth inhibition, 30 days post treatment.

FIGS. 16A-C show PDS-1 expression levels as determined by Real-Time PCR. FIG. 16A is a picture of germinated rice seeds 7 days after treatment, control on the bottom. FIG. 16B—A picture of planted rice seeds 5 weeks after treatment, the control plant is on the left and has a darker green color compared to PDS-1 silenced plant. FIG. 16C—RNA was extracted from control and PDS-1 silenced plants and PDS-1 expression levels were checked by Real Time PCR. UBQ5 expression levels were served as normalizers and the PDS-1 expression levels in the control plants served as calibrators and got a value of 1.

FIG. 17 shows no phenotypic differences in root development of control (left) and Hap2e dsRNA-treated (right) germinated seeds 5 days post treatment. This demonstrates that the seed treatment did not have any negative effect on seed germination and initial development.

FIGS. 18A-C show the successful dsRNA-derived expression changes of Hap2e (miR169 target gene) using RT-PCR testing 3 different primer sets on RNA extracted from leaves of rice seedlings 5 days post germination. FIG. 18A—RT-PCR using a first primer set where both primers were located inside the dsRNA molecule itself. FIG. 18B—Second primer set where the 5′ part of the forward primer is in the dsRNA and the 3′ part is in the mRNA, the reverse primer was located outside the dsRNA. FIG. 18C—Third primer set where primers were located outside of dsRNA molecule on the Hap2e gene. Results with all primer sets were consistent and gave similar qualitative data. The average fold change of Hap2e expression of 5 control plants was used as a reference and was plotted as having a value of 1. Treated samples were plotted separately and their respective fold change of Hap2e target gene was calculated relative to expression in control plants. Five out of nine dsRNA-treated plants exhibited Hap2e down-regulation compared to control (5/9 of treated plants, efficiency of 55.5%).

FIG. 19 shows the final dsRNA-derived expression changes of Hap2e (miR169 target gene) detected by RT-PCR, using the third primer set from FIG. 18C above, on RNA extracted from leaves of rice seedlings 7 days post germination. The average fold change of Hap2e expression of 4 control plants was used as a threshold reference and was plotted as having a value of 1. Treated samples were plotted separately and their respective fold change of Hap2e target gene was calculated relative to expression in control plants. Six representative treated plants, out of 16 plants total, were selected and plotted alongside control plants, with 4 treated plants exhibiting Hap2e down-regulation of approximately 50% and over compared to control (4/16 equals 25% efficiency), including complete silencing in one plant.

FIG. 20 shows the dsRNA-derived down-regulation of Hap2e (miR169 target gene) detected by RT-PCR, on RNA extracted from leaves of rice seedlings 18 days post germination. The average fold change of Hap2e expression of 4 control plants was used as a threshold reference and was plotted as having a value of 1 (shown in a red bar). Treated samples were plotted separately and their respective fold change of Hap2e target gene was calculated relative to expression in control plants. Eleven out of 16 treated plants exhibited some Hap2e down-regulation (shown in blue bars), and 8 of those exhibiting Hap2e down-regulation of over 25% compared to control (8/16 equals 50% efficiency).

FIG. 21 shows results of RT-PCR on RNA extracted from control and NFY dsRNA-treated corn seeds 10 days after germination. The expression level of NFY target gene in control plants was averaged and recorded as “1” for comparison reference to that seen in dsRNA-treated plants. Four out of 8 treated plants that appear on the graph exhibited NFY down-regulation of 50% and over (4/8 efficiency of 50%).

FIG. 22 shows results of RT-PCR on RNA extracted from control and NFY dsRNA-treated tomato seeds 3 weeks after germination. The expression level of NFY target gene in 8 control plants (shown in red) was averaged and recorded as “1” for a comparison reference to that seen in dsRNA-treated plants (shown in blue bars). Down-regulation of 40% and over was successfully achieved with 23% efficiency (6 out of 26) in treated plants relative to control plants.

FIGS. 23A-B show height distribution of control and NFY dsRNA-treated tomato plants 55 days post inoculation. FIG. 23A presents the height distribution of control plants (blue bars) and FIG. 23B shows the height distribution of treated plants (yellow bars).

FIG. 24 shows major phenotypic differences of control and NFY dsRNA-treated tomato plants 55 days post inoculation. Control plants are seen on the left and treated plants are on the right of each picture. A delayed development was apparent in the shorter treated plants compared to control plants. Top picture is a side view and bottom picture is a top view of the same plants.

FIG. 25 shows results of RT-PCR on RNA extracted from control and NAC dsRNA-treated corn seeds 10 days after germination. The expression level of NAC target gene in control plants was averaged and recorded as “1” for a comparison reference to that seen in dsRNA-treated plants. All 14 dsRNA treated plants exhibited NAC gene down-regulation, with one plant showing complete silencing of the gene (#8).

FIGS. 26A-B show results of RT-PCR, using cDNA prepared with either random primers (FIG. 26A) or oligo-dT (FIG. 26B), on RNA extracted from control and ARF-8 dsRNA-treated rice seeds 18 days after germination. The expression level of ARF-8 target gene in 9-10 control plants was averaged and recorded as “1” for a comparison reference to that seen in dsRNA-treated plants. In FIG. 26A, four plants showed an ARF-8 gene down-regulation of over 26%, and in FIG. 26B, seven plants showed an ARF-8 gene down-regulation of over 50%.

FIG. 27 shows no phenotypic differences in root development of control (top row) and SPL17 dsRNA-treated (bottom row) germinated rice seeds 5 days post treatment.

FIGS. 28A-B show the results of RT-PCR testing 2 different primer sets on RNA extracted from leaves of control and SPL17 (miR156 target gene) dsRNA treated rice seedlings 5 days post germination. FIG. 28A—RT-PCR using first primer set where both primers were located inside the dsRNA molecule itself. FIG. 28B—Second primer set where primers were located on the SPL17 ORF, outside of the dsRNA molecule. The average fold change of SPL17 expression of 5 control plants was used as a threshold reference and was plotted as having a value of 1. Treated samples were plotted separately and their respective fold change of SPL17 target gene was calculated relative to expression in control plants. It is suggested the primer set #1 will amplify both the endogenous sequence and the dsRNA molecules introduced into the plant, whereas primer set #2 will only amplify the endogenous sequence.

FIG. 29 shows the results of RT-PCR on RNA extracted from leaves of control and SPL17 (miR156 target gene) dsRNA-treated rice plants 14 weeks post germination. The average fold change of SPL17 expression of 4 control plants was used as a threshold reference and was plotted as having a value of 1. Treated samples were plotted separately and their respective fold change of SPL17 target gene was calculated relative to expression in control plants. Down-regulation of up to 90% of SPL17 gene expression was observed. Seven out of 10 dsRNA-treated plants exhibited SPL17 down-regulation of over 65% (7/10 efficiency of 70%).

FIGS. 30A-B show the results of RT-PCR on RNA extracted from leaves of control and ARF8 (miR167 target gene) dsRNA treated tomato seeds in plants 3 weeks and 8 weeks (FIGS. 30A and 30B, respectively) post germination. The expression level of ARF-8 target gene in 8 or 20 control plants (FIGS. 30A and 30B, respectively) was averaged and recorded as “1” for a comparison reference to that seen in dsRNA-treated plants FIG. 30A—The fold change of ARF8 expression in control (shown in a red bar) and dsRNA-treated (shown in blue bars) tomato plants 3 weeks after germination was plotted for each individual plant to demonstrate the large variation of ARF-8 expression in dsRNA-treated plants. Five out of the 8 treated plants shown in the graph exhibited ARF-8 down-regulation of over 40% (5/8 efficiency of 62.5%), FIG. 30B—same as in FIG. 30A for tomato plants 8 weeks after germination. Six out of 9 treated plants shown in the graph exhibited ARF-8 down-regulation of over 30% (6/9 efficiency of 66.7%).

FIGS. 31A-D show the specific distribution of height in control (blue bars) and ARF8 dsRNA-treated (maroon bars) tomato plants 55 (FIG. 31A), 62 (FIG. 31B) and 72 days (FIG. 31C) following treatment. FIG. 31D shows the average height of control plants compared with that of treated plants 62 days following treatment.

FIGS. 32A-B show phenotypic differences between control and ARF8 dsRNA-treated plants, 55 (FIG. 32A) and 72 days (FIG. 32B) after seed treatment. Control plants are seen on the left and treated plants are seen on the right of each picture. In FIG. 32A, top picture is a side view and bottom picture is a top view of the same plants. Treated plants are shorter and more branched compared to same-age control plants.

FIGS. 33A-B show the results of RT-PCR on RNA extracted from leaves of control and FW2.2 dsRNA treated tomato plants 9 weeks post germination. FIG. 33A shows the fold change of FW2.2 expression in control (shown in red bars) and dsRNA-treated (shown in blue bars) plants, which was plotted for each individual plant to demonstrate the variation in expression level of FW2.2 gene in the two plant groups. FIG. 33B shows the average expression of FW2.2 in control (red bar) compared to treated plants (blue bar). Down-regulation in expression level of FW2.2 gene is evident in treated plants compared to control plants.

FIG. 34 shows no phenotypic differences between control and FW2.2 dsRNA-treated plants 72 days after treatment. Both control plants (on the left) and dsRNA treated plants (on the right) have the same height on average and exhibit similar physical properties.

FIGS. 35A-B show longer and more developed root system in rice seedlings grown from rice seeds treated against the Della gene (FIG. 35B) compared to control plants (FIG. 35A).

FIGS. 36A-B show longer and more developed root and shoot systems in rice seedlings grown from rice seeds treated against the NRR gene (FIG. 36B) compared to control plants (FIG. 36A) when the seedlings were grown on nitrogen free growth medium.

FIGS. 37A-C show the results of RT-PCR (using oligo dT) on RNA extracted from leaves of control rice seeds and seeds treated with a mix containing dsRNA molecules for down-regulation of three endogenous genes: Hap2e, Della and SQS, 18 days post germination. The expression level of each individual gene was averaged in 8 control plants (shown in a red bar) and used as a threshold reference (received value of 1) for expression in treated plants. Treated samples (shown in blue bars) were plotted separately and their respective fold change in expression level of each target gene was calculated relative to expression in control plants. FIG. 37A—RT-PCR expression results for Hap2e gene, FIG. 37B—RT-PCR expression results for Della gene, FIG. 37C—RT-PCR expression results for SQS gene. Down-regulation of all genes is apparent in the dsRNA treated plants, ranging from 30% to 100% (complete silencing) expression reduction.

FIGS. 38A-D are confocal images showing penetration of fluorescent siRNA molecules (red, siGlo) to tomato seeds. Cells nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33342 (blue). Seeds treated with fluorescent siRNA are shown on FIGS. 38A and 38C, while the untreated control seeds are shown FIGS. 38B and 38D. FIGS. 38A-B are fluorescent images while FIGS. 38C-D show transmitted light images. Images were taken 24 hours following seed treatment with siRNA at 1 μM final concentration.

FIGS. 39A-D are graphs of HPLC analyses of SPL (SEQ ID NO: 126, FIGS. 39A and B) and GUS (SEQ ID NO: 21, FIGS. 39C and D) dsRNAs before (FIGS. 39A and C) and after (FIGs. B and D) seed treatment. The arrows indicate ssRNA and dsRNA.

FIGS. 40A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 17-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours. FIG. 40A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL (blue bars, SEQ ID NO: 126), GUS (red bars, SEQ ID NO: 21) and FW2.2 (green bars, SEQ ID NO: 114) dsRNAs. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 40B shows that Median values of the data shown in FIG. 40A. p-value=0.02 for difference in SPL expression level relative to GUS control and p-value=0.07 for difference in SPL expression level relative to FW2.2 control. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 41A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 6 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 41A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 41B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 41A. The change in expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.012). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 42A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 2 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 42A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 42B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 42A. The change in expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.0015). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 43A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analysis of SPL mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 10 minutes (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 43A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 43B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 43A. The change in expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.0035). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 44A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analysis of SPL mRNA expression in 13-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds dipped in 50 μg/ml dsRNA solution (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 44A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 44B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 44A. The change in expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.017). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 45A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 17-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 25 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 45A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 45B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 45A. The change in expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.049). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 46A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 25 μg/ml dsRNA for 2 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 46A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 46B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 46A. The change in expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.0062). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 47A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 25 μg/ml dsRNA for 10 minutes (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 47A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 47B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 47A. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 48A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 17-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 1 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 48A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 48B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 48A. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 49A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 1 μg/ml dsRNA for 2 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 49A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 49B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 49A. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 50A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 1 μg/ml dsRNA for 10 minutes (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 50A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 50B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 50A. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 51A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of SPL mRNA expression in 13-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml siRNA for 2 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 40A-B). FIG. 51A shows fold change in SPL mRNA expression following treatment with SPL siRNA for which GUS siRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS siRNA. FIG. 51B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 51A. The change in expression relative to control group had a p-value of 0.12. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIG. 52 is graphs showing HPLC analyses of FW2.2 ssRNA/dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 114) mixture before treatment. Arrows indicate the ssRNA and dsRNA fractions.

FIGS. 53A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of FW2.2 mRNA expression in 17-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours. FIG. 53A shows fold change in FW2.2 mRNA expression following treatment with FW2.2 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 114), for which GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21) treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 53B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 53A. The change in FW2.2 expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.024). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 54A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analysis of FW2.2 mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 6 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 53A-B). FIG. 54A shows fold change in FW2.2 mRNA expression following treatment with FW2.2 dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 54B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 54A. The change in FW2.2 expression relative to control group had a p-value of 0.1. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 55A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of FW2.2 mRNA expression in 18-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 2 hours (the dsRNAs are as in FIGS. 53A-B). FIG. 55A shows fold change in FW2.2 mRNA expression following treatment with FW2.2 dsRNA, for which GUS dsRNA treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 55B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 55A. The change in FW2.2 expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=0.049). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 56A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of DELLA mRNA expression in 13-days old rice plants germinated from seeds treated with 142 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours. FIG. 56A shows fold change in DELLA mRNA expression following treatment with DELLA dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 123), for which GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21) treatment was used as control baseline. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with GUS dsRNA. FIG. 56B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 56A. The change in DELLA expression relative to control group was significant (p-value=6.28×10⁻⁴). Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIG. 57 is an image showing germinated wheat seeds three days after treatment. Top—control seeds treated with 0.1 mM EDTA, middle—control seeds treated with GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21), bottom—seeds treated with PDS dsRNA (SEQ ID NOs: 44 and 45).

FIGS. 58A-B are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analysis of TB1 mRNA expression in 7.5-week old corn plants germinated from seeds treated with 25 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours. FIG. 58A shows fold change in TB1 mRNA expression following treatment with TB1 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 145) and CGMMV dsRNA (SEQ ID NOs: 8 and 11) as control. Each bar represents one plant. Expression values per individual plants were normalized to the median expression of all plants treated with CGMMV dsRNA. FIG. 58B shows Median values of the data shown in FIG. 58A. The change in TB1 expression relative to CGMMV control had a p-value of 0.065. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the data.

FIGS. 59A-C are bar graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of NAC mRNA expression in five-days old corn shoots and 12-days old leaves germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours. FIG. 59A—Seeds put in germination boxes after treatment with dsRNAs (SEQ ID NOs; 83 and 21 for NAC and GUS, respectively). FIG. 59B—Seeds washed and dried after treatment with dsRNAs. GUS dsRNA served as control. Each dot represents one plant. FIG. 59C-Real-time PCR analysis of NAC mRNA expression in 12-days old corn leaves germinated from seeds treated in the same way as in FIGS. 59A and 59B, and planted in soil. Note the upregulation in NAC mRNA 5 days following germination and down regulation thereafter.

FIGS. 60A-D are graphs showing real-time PCR analyses of HY5 mRNA expression in one-week old and two-week old lettuce plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours. FIG. 60A shows the expression levels of HY5.5 mRNA in one-week old plants following treatment with HY5.5 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 156), HY5.6 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 160) or a mix of the two (1:1, altogether 50 μg/ml). GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21) or 0.1 mM EDTA (buffer) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant. FIG. 60B shows the expression levels of HY5.6 mRNA in one-week old plants following treatment with HY5.5 dsRNA, HY5.6 dsRNA or a mix of the two. GUS dsRNA or 0.1 mM EDTA (buffer) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant. FIG. 60C shows the expression levels of HY5.5 mRNA in two-week old plants following treatment with HY5.5 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 156), HY5.6 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 160) or a mix of the two (1:1, altogether 50 μg/ml). GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21), DHFR dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 167) or 0.1 mM EDTA (buffer) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant. FIG. 60D shows the expression levels of HY5.6 mRNA in two-week old plants following treatment with HY5.5 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 156), HY5.6 dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 160) or a mix of the two (1:1, altogether 50 μg/ml). GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21), DHFR dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 167) or 0.1 mM EDTA (buffer) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant.

FIG. 61 is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of DHFR mRNA expression in one-week old lettuce plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 167) for 24 hours. GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21) or 0.1 mM EDTA (buffer) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant.

FIGS. 62A-B shows the effect of cucumber seed treatment with DND1 dsRNA. FIG. 62A is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of DND1 mRNA expression in 15-days old cucumber plants germinated from seeds treated with 100 μg/ml dsRNA (SEQ ID NOs: 171 and 172) for 24 hours. GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21) or 0.1 mM EDTA (formulation) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant. FIG. 62B shows percent gall rating of cucumber roots 11 days after seed treatment with DND1 dsRNA. GFP dsRNA and 0.1 mM EDTA (formulation) are control treatments.

FIG. 63 is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of PMR5 mRNA expression in 15-days old cucumber plants germinated from seeds treated with 100 μg/ml dsRNA (SEQ ID NOs: 180 and 181) for 24 hours. GFP dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 176) or 0.1 mM EDTA (formulation) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant.

FIG. 64 is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of TubG mRNA expression in 15-days old cucumber plants germinated from seeds treated with 100 μg/ml dsRNAs (SEQ ID NO: 185 and 186) for 24 hours. GFP dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 176) or 0.1 mM EDTA (formulation) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant.

FIG. 65 is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of DND1 mRNA expression in 15-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 100 μg/ml dsRNA (SEQ ID NOs: 24 and 25) for 24 hours. GFP dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 176) or 0.1 mM EDTA (formulation) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant.

FIG. 66 is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of PMR5 mRNA expression in 15-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 100 μg/ml dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 32) for 24 hours. GFP dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 176) or 0.1 mM EDTA (formulation) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant.

FIG. 67 is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of MLO mRNA expression in 15-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with 100 μg/ml dsRNA (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38) for 24 hours. GFP dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 176) or 0.1 mM EDTA (formulation) served as controls. Each dot represents one plant.

FIG. 68 is a bar graph showing an average percent of Powdery mildew disease in 15-days old tomato plants germinated from seeds treated with Bi1 (SEQ ID NOs: 42 and 43) and PMR5 (SEQ ID NO: 198) dsRNAs. GFP dsRNA served as control.

FIG. 69 is a graph showing real-time PCR analysis of PHYAE3 mRNA expression in 1-week old soy plants germinated from seeds treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNAs (SEQ ID NOs: 190 and 194) for 24 hours. GUS dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 21) served as control. Each dot represents one plant.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to methods of introducing dsRNA to plant seeds for modulating gene expression.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

With the extensive growth of the world-population and the limited habitats for plant growth and cultivation, there is an urging need to improve plant yields under these changing conditions.

RNAi has emerged as a powerful tool for modulating gene expression which can be used for generating plants with improved stress tolerance.

In plants, RNAi is typically performed by producing transgenic plants that over-express a DNA fragment that is transcribed to produce a dsRNA. This dsRNA is then processed into siRNAs that mediate the silencing of target genes, typically by targeting cleavage of the target gene by an RNA Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) or by translational repression.

The major technical limitation for this technology is that many important plant crop species are difficult or impossible to transform, precluding the constitutive expression of constructs directing production of dsRNA. Moreover, questions concerning the potential ecological impact of virus-resistant transgenic plants have so far significantly limited their use [Tepfer, 2002, Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 40, 467-491].

The present inventors have now devised a novel technology for introducing dsRNA molecules directly to the plant seed. These enter seeds and start a silencing process, which is continued during the life cycle of the plant, resulting in a plant with an improved trait of interest. The introduced dsRNA is naked and as such no exogenous transcription regulatory elements are introduced into the plant thus lowering the environmental concerns associated with transgenic plants. In addition, the modified seed can be germinated to generate a plant without the need of going through the laborious and cumbersome steps of tissue culture regeneration.

As is illustrated herein below and in the Examples section, which follows, the present inventors were able to configure the conditions necessary to introduce naked dsRNA into the seeds (see e.g., Example 1). The naked dsRNA doesn't integrate into the genome and is highly stable in the plant and in solution (Examples 2-4). The naked dsRNA penetrates through the seed coat (i.e., testa) of both monocot and dicot plants and distributes in the endosperm and seed embryo (Examples 5-6). The present inventors were able to alter expression of endogenous genes (Examples 7-14) as well as exogenous viral genes (Example 2). These results were reproduced over a number of plants of both monocot and dicot groups. Thus the present inventors were able to provide a wide range of doses and kinetics which resulted in a significant alteration of gene expression (see e.g., Examples 23-29). These results were further established in wheat and substantiated by a biological effect showing delayed germination ((Example 30), Gene expression was altered in Corn following introduction of dsRNA for various targets (Examples 31 and 32). Other vegetables which were treated with dsRNA included cucumber and lettuce (Examples 33-37). The present inventors were also able to show altered gene expression in another commercial crop i.e., soy (see Example 42). Thus, the present results are sufficient to show that the present teachings provide a cost-effective treatment of plant seeds to achieve a desired agricultural and horticultural phenotype. Without being bound by theory, it is suggested that the newly suggested transformation modality and modulation of gene expression is dependent on and associated with:

(i) Introduction of naked dsRNA into the interior of seeds (as opposed to mere seed coating). The introduction is effected by soaking the seeds in a solution which comprises the dsRNA such that the dsRNA penetrates through the seed coat or by dipping such that the dsRNA coats the seed and penetrates through the coat after sowing;

(ii) Amplification of the dsRNA signal; and

(iii) Spreading of the dsRNA signal throughout the plant.

The first step occurs only once, during and shortly after the initial seed treatment, while the second and third steps occur in a repetitive loop for as long as the silencing signal remains active in the plant.

A suggested unbinding mode of action for the described invention is based on each step:

Introduction of dsRNA into Seeds

A typical mature seed consists of an embryo encapsulated within a maternal seed coat (testa) and an abundant layer of endosperm tissue between the embryo and seed coat. The endosperm serves as a nutrient source for the embryo during seed development, germination and seedling establishment.

Seed germination typically begins with exposure of the seeds to water, which is absorbed by the embryo and endosperm. The endosperm then expands in volume, with the endosperm of some plant species being able to grow several-fold from their original volume. The embryo, which was dormant until this stage, is now released from dormancy and cell division, expansion and differentiation begin. The endosperm feeds the developing embryo until it is developed enough to begin photosynthesis and autotrophic growth.

Based on these known mechanisms of seed germination, two possible modes of action for the initial step of “Introduction of dsRNA into seeds” are suggested:

The dsRNA molecules enter the embryo directly, carried by the water-based solution which is used for the seed treatment.

The dsRNA molecules enter the endosperm as part of the endosperm's water-absorption process. These molecules then feed the embryo as it develops as part of the nutrient flow from the endosperm during germination and seed development.

Based on the results described in FIGS. 7-13, it is estimated that a combination of the two options takes place. That is, some of the dsRNA enters the embryo directly and some is retained in the endosperm and feeds the developing embryo during seed germination.

Amplification of the dsRNA Signal

Once the dsRNA molecules enter the embryo, they are recognized and processed by RNase III-like enzymes such as Dicer or Dicer-like (DCL) enzymes. DCL enzymes process the long dsRNA molecules into short, double strand RNAs (known as siRNAs or shRNAs), which are typically 21-24 nucleotides (nt) long. One of the siRNA strands is typically rapidly degraded and the second one can be incorporated in RISC(RNA Induced Silencing Complex) protein complexes, which contain an Argonaute (AGO) protein. AGO proteins contain a PIWI domain to bind siRNAs and a PAZ domain with RNase activity. Subsequently, the siRNA/AGO complex identifies an mRNA molecule, which is complementary to the siRNA and results in its silencing by cleavage or translational repression.

The siRNA is then released from the RISC complex and can now act as a primer for an RNA-Dependant RNA Polymerase (RDRP), this is an enzyme which is unique to the plant kingdom and can generate amplification of the silencing signal by generating new dsRNA molecules (secondary siRNA). These newly-synthesized dsRNAs can be processed again as described above, therefore maintaining and amplifying the silencing signal.

Spreading of the Silencing Signal

Silencing spreading is a known and well-understood phenomenon in plants. It is believed that short distance, cell-to-cell spreading occurs through plasmodesmata. This process is thought to be mediated by a 21 nt-long siRNA, which is the product of a DCL enzyme. Additionally, systemic spreading is achieved through the phloem across the entire plant from source to sink.

It is assumed that in the described methodology, spreading of the silencing signal occurs once the silencing signal begins and is amplified as described above. This may include both short-distance and systematic spreading by various siRNA signal molecules.

Thus according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of introducing naked double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into a seed, the method comprising contacting the seed with the naked dsRNA under conditions which allow penetration of the dsRNA into the seed, thereby introducing the dsRNA into the seed.

As used herein the phrase “naked dsRNA” refers to a dsRNA nucleic acid molecule which is non-transcribable in the plant cell. Thus, the naked dsRNA molecule is not comprised in a nucleic acid expression construct such as a viral vector. According to some embodiments of the invention, the naked dsRNA molecule is not derived from a viral vector. According to some embodiments, the dsRNA is not a product of a natural viral infection. According to some embodiments, the naked dsRNA may comprise regulatory elements for in-vitro transcription, such as the T7 promoter. According to some embodiments of the invention, the naked dsRNA may be modified e.g., chemically modified, to confer higher bioavailability, penetration into the seeds and/or improved shelf-life.

As used herein the term “dsRNA” relates to two strands of anti-parallel polyribonucleic acids held together by base pairing. The two strands can be of identical length or of different lengths provided there is enough sequence homology between the two strands that a double stranded structure is formed with at least 80%, 90%, 95% or 100% complementarity over the entire length. According to an embodiment of the invention, there are no overhangs for the dsRNA molecule. According to another embodiment of the invention, the dsRNA molecule comprises overhangs. According to other embodiments, the strands are aligned such that there are at least 1, 2, or 3 bases at the end of the strands which do not align (i.e., for which no complementary bases occur in the opposing strand) such that an overhang of 1, 2 or 3 residues occurs at one or both ends of the duplex when strands are annealed.

As mentioned any dsRNA molecule can be used in accordance with the present teachings as long as it is subject to amplification by RNA-Dependant RNA Polymerase (RDRP).

The present teachings relate to various lengths of dsRNA, whereby the shorter version i.e., x is shorter or equals 50 bp (e.g., 17-50), is referred to as siRNA or miRNA. Longer dsRNA molecules of 51-600 are referred to herein as dsRNA, which can be further processed for siRNA molecules.

The term “siRNA” refers to small inhibitory RNA duplexes (generally between 17-30 basepairs, but also longer e.g., 31-50 bp) that induce the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. Typically, siRNAs are chemically synthesized as 21 mers with a central 19 bp duplex region and symmetric 2-base 3′-overhangs on the termini, although it has been recently described that chemically synthesized RNA duplexes of 25-30 base length can have as much as a 100-fold increase in potency compared with 21 mers at the same location. The observed increased potency obtained using longer RNAs in triggering RNAi is theorized to result from providing Dicer with a substrate (27 mer) instead of a product (21 mer) and that this improves the rate or efficiency of entry of the siRNA duplex into RISC.

It has been found that position of the 3′-overhang influences potency of an siRNA and asymmetric duplexes having a 3′-overhang on the antisense strand are generally more potent than those with the 3′-overhang on the sense strand (Rose et al., 2005). This can be attributed to asymmetrical strand loading into RISC, as the opposite efficacy patterns are observed when targeting the antisense transcript.

The strands of a double-stranded interfering RNA (e.g., an siRNA) may be connected to form a hairpin or stem-loop structure (e.g., an shRNA). Thus, as mentioned the RNA silencing agent of some embodiments of the invention may also be a short hairpin RNA (shRNA).

The term “shRNA”, as used herein, refers to an RNA agent having a stem-loop structure, comprising a first and second region of complementary sequence, the degree of complementarity and orientation of the regions being sufficient such that base pairing occurs between the regions, the first and second regions being joined by a loop region, the loop resulting from a lack of base pairing between nucleotides (or nucleotide analogs) within the loop region. The number of nucleotides in the loop is a number between and including 3 to 23, or 5 to 15, or 7 to 13, or 4 to 9, or 9 to 11. Some of the nucleotides in the loop can be involved in base-pair interactions with other nucleotides in the loop. Examples of oligonucleotide sequences that can be used to form the loop include 5′-UUCAAGAGA-3′ (Brummelkamp, T. R. et al. (2002) Science 296: 550, DEQ ID NO: 22) and 5′-UUUGUGUAG-3′ (Castanotto, D. et al. (2002) RNA 8:1454, SEQ ID NO: 23). It will be recognized by one of skill in the art that the resulting single chain oligonucleotide forms a stem-loop or hairpin structure comprising a double-stranded region capable of interacting with the RNAi machinery.

As used herein, the phrase “microRNA (also referred to herein interchangeably as “miRNA” or “miR”) or a precursor thereof” refers to a microRNA (miRNA) molecule acting as a post-transcriptional regulator. Typically, the miRNA molecules are RNA molecules of about 20 to 22 nucleotides in length which can be loaded into a RISC complex and which direct the cleavage of another RNA molecule, wherein the other RNA molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence essentially complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the miRNA molecule.

Typically, a miRNA molecule is processed from a “pre-miRNA” or as used herein a precursor of a pre-miRNA molecule by proteins, such as DCL proteins, present in any plant cell and loaded onto a RISC complex where it can guide the cleavage of the target RNA molecules.

Pre-microRNA molecules are typically processed from pri-microRNA molecules (primary transcripts). The single stranded RNA segments flanking the pre-microRNA are important for processing of the pri-miRNA into the pre-miRNA. The cleavage site appears to be determined by the distance from the stem-ssRNA junction (Han et al. 2006, Cell 125, 887-901, 887-901).

As used herein, a “pre-miRNA” molecule is an RNA molecule of about 100 to about 200 nucleotides, preferably about 100 to about 130 nucleotides which can adopt a secondary structure comprising an imperfect double stranded RNA stem and a single stranded RNA loop (also referred to as “hairpin”) and further comprising the nucleotide sequence of the miRNA (and its complement sequence) in the double stranded RNA stem. According to a specific embodiment, the miRNA and its complement are located about 10 to about 20 nucleotides from the free ends of the miRNA double stranded RNA stem. The length and sequence of the single stranded loop region are not critical and may vary considerably, e.g. between 30 and 50 nt in length. The complementarity between the miRNA and its complement need not be perfect and about 1 to 3 bulges of unpaired nucleotides can be tolerated. The secondary structure adopted by an RNA molecule can be predicted by computer algorithms conventional in the art such as mFOLD. The particular strand of the double stranded RNA stem from the pre-miRNA which is released by DCL activity and loaded onto the RISC complex is determined by the degree of complementarity at the 5′ end, whereby the strand which at its 5′ end is the least involved in hydrogen bounding between the nucleotides of the different strands of the cleaved dsRNA stem is loaded onto the RISC complex and will determine the sequence specificity of the target RNA molecule degradation. However, if empirically the miRNA molecule from a particular synthetic pre-miRNA molecule is not functional (because the “wrong” strand is loaded on the RISC complex), it will be immediately evident that this problem can be solved by exchanging the position of the miRNA molecule and its complement on the respective strands of the dsRNA stem of the pre-miRNA molecule. As is known in the art, binding between A and U involving two hydrogen bounds, or G and U involving two hydrogen bounds is less strong that between G and C involving three hydrogen bounds. Exemplary hairpin sequences are provided in Tables 1-8, below.

Naturally occurring miRNA molecules may be comprised within their naturally occurring pre-miRNA molecules but they can also be introduced into existing pre-miRNA molecule scaffolds by exchanging the nucleotide sequence of the miRNA molecule normally processed from such existing pre-miRNA molecule for the nucleotide sequence of another miRNA of interest. The scaffold of the pre-miRNA can also be completely synthetic. Likewise, synthetic miRNA molecules may be comprised within, and processed from, existing pre-miRNA molecule scaffolds or synthetic pre-miRNA scaffolds. Some pre-miRNA scaffolds may be preferred over others for their efficiency to be correctly processed into the designed microRNAs, particularly when expressed as a chimeric gene wherein other DNA regions, such as untranslated leader sequences or transcription termination and polyadenylation regions are incorporated in the primary transcript in addition to the pre-microRNA.

According to the present teachings, the dsRNA molecules may be naturally occurring or synthetic.

The dsRNA can be a mixture of long and short dsRNA molecules such as, dsRNA, siRNA, siRNA+dsRNA, siRNA+miRNA, or a combination of same. According to a specific embodiment, the dsRNA is an siRNA (100%). According to a specific embodiment the dsRNA is an siRNA+dsRNA combination in various ratios. For example a ratio of 1 to 1: one dsRNA mixed with the same sequence after RNAse III treatment. According to another embodiment, the dsRNA to siRNA ratio is 2:1, 1.5:1, 1.3:1, 1:0.01, 1:0.05 or 1:0.1. According to a further embodiment, the dsRNA to siRNA ratio is 2:1 to 1:0.1. According to a specific embodiment, the dsRNA is purified dsRNA (100%).

The dsRNA molecule is designed for specifically targeting a target gene of interest. It will be appreciated that the dsRNA can be used to down-regulate one or more target genes. If a number of target genes are targeted, a heterogenic composition which comprises a plurality of dsRNA molecules for targeting a number of target genes is used. Alternatively said plurality of dsRNA molecules are separately applied to the seeds (but not as a single composition). According to a specific embodiment, a number of distinct dsRNA molecules for a single target are used, which may be separately or simultaneously (i.e., co-formulation) applied.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the target gene is endogenous to the plant. Downregulating such a gene is typically important for conferring the plant with an improved, agricultural, horticultural, nutritional trait (“improvement” or an “increase” is further defined hereinbelow). It will be appreciated that the treatment with the dsRNA may result in an up-regulation of the target gene (which follows a suggested mechanism that is provided hereinbelow) however such an up-regulation may be transient. The present inventors were able to confer resistance to biotic stress by modulating expression of endogenous genes in cucumber and tomato thereby conferring resistance to infections as demonstrated in Examples 35 and 41.

As used herein “endogenous” refers to a gene which expression (mRNA or protein) takes place in the plant. Typically, the endogenous gene is naturally expressed in the plant or originates from the plant. Thus, the plant may be a wild-type plant. However, the plant may also be a genetically modified plant (transgenic).

Downregulation of the target gene may be important for conferring improved one of-, or at least one of (e.g., two of- or more), biomass, vigor, yield, abiotic stress tolerance, biotic stress tolerance or improved nitrogen use efficiency.

Exemplary target genes include, but are not limited to, an enzyme, a structural protein, a plant regulatory protein, a miRNA target gene, or a non-coding RNA such as a miRNA of the plant. WO2011067745, WO 2009125401 and WO 2012056401 provide examples of miRNA sequences or targets of miRNAs (e.g., mRNA167, miRNA 156, miR164 and targets thereof NFY, SPL17 and NAC, respectively) which expression can be silenced to improve a plant trait. Other examples of target genes which may be subject to modulation according to the present teachings are described in the Examples section which follows.

The target gene may comprise a nucleic acid sequence which is transcribed to an mRNA which codes for a polypeptide.

Alternatively, the target gene can be a non-coding gene such as a miRNA or a siRNA.

For example, in order to silence the expression of an mRNA of interest, synthesis of the dsRNA suitable for use with some embodiments of the invention can be selected as follows. First, the mRNA sequence is scanned including the 3′ UTR and the 5′ UTR.

Second, the mRNA sequence is compared to an appropriate genomic database using any sequence alignment software, such as the BLAST software available from the NCBI server (wwwdotncbidotnlmdotnihdotgov/BLAST/). Putative regions in the mRNA sequence which exhibit significant homology to other coding sequences are filtered out.

Qualifying target sequences are selected as template for dsRNA synthesis. Preferred sequences are those that have as little homology to other genes in the genome to reduce an “off-target” effect.

It will be appreciated that the RNA silencing agent of some embodiments of the invention need not be limited to those molecules containing only RNA, but further encompasses chemically-modified nucleotides and non-nucleotides.

The dsRNA may be synthesized using any method known in the art, including either enzymatic syntheses or solid-phase syntheses. These are especially useful in the case of short polynucleotide sequences with or without modifications as explained above. Equipment and reagents for executing solid-phase synthesis are commercially available from, for example, Applied Biosystems. Any other means for such synthesis may also be employed; the actual synthesis of the oligonucleotides is well within the capabilities of one skilled in the art and can be accomplished via established methodologies as detailed in, for example: Sambrook, J. and Russell, D. W. (2001), “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”; Ausubel, R. M. et al., eds. (1994, 1989), “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,” Volumes I-III, John Wiley & Sons, Baltimore, Md.; Perbal, B. (1988), “A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning,” John Wiley & Sons, New York; and Gait, M. J., ed. (1984), “Oligonucleotide Synthesis”; utilizing solid-phase chemistry, e.g. cyanoethyl phosphoramidite followed by deprotection, desalting, and purification by, for example, an automated trityl-on method or HPLC.

As mentioned, the naked dsRNA molecule is directly contacted with the seed.

The seed may be of any plant, such as of the Viridiplantae super family including monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants. Other plants are listed hereinbelow. According to an embodiment of the invention, the cells of the plant comprise RNA dependent RNA polymerase activity and the target RNA molecule of the dsRNA to ensure amplification of the dsRNA.

The term “plant” as used herein encompasses whole plants, ancestors and progeny of the plants and plant parts, including seeds, shoots, stems, roots (including tubers), and isolated plant cells, tissues and organs. The plant may be in any form including suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores. It will be appreciated, that the plant or seed thereof may be transgenic plants.

As used herein the phrase “plant cell” refers to plant cells which are derived and isolated from disintegrated plant cell tissue or plant cell cultures.

As used herein the phrase “plant cell culture” refers to any type of native (naturally occurring) plant cells, plant cell lines and genetically modified plant cells, which are not assembled to form a complete plant, such that at least one biological structure of a plant is not present. Optionally, the plant cell culture of this aspect of the present invention may comprise a particular type of a plant cell or a plurality of different types of plant cells. It should be noted that optionally plant cultures featuring a particular type of plant cell may be originally derived from a plurality of different types of such plant cells.

Any commercially or scientifically valuable plant is envisaged in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Plants that are particularly useful in the methods of the invention include all plants which belong to the super family Viridiplantae, in particular monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants including a fodder or forage legume, ornamental plant, food crop, tree, or shrub selected from the list comprising Acacia spp., Acer spp., Actinidia spp., Aesculus spp., Agathis australis, Albizia amara, Alsophila tricolor, Andropogon spp., Arachis spp, Areca catechu, Astelia fragrans, Astragalus cicer, Baikiaea plurijuga, Betula spp., Brassica spp., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Burkea africana, Butea frondosa, Cadaba farinosa, Calliandra spp, Camellia sinensis, Canna indica, Capsicum spp., Cassia spp., Centroema pubescens, Chacoomeles spp., Cinnamomum cassia, Coffea arabica, Colophospermum mopane, Coronillia varia, Cotoneaster serotina, Crataegus spp., Cucumis spp., Cupressus spp., Cyathea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Cryptomeria japonica, Cymbopogon spp., Cynthea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Dalbergia monetaria, Davallia divaricata, Desmodium spp., Dicksonia squarosa, Dibeteropogon amplectens, Dioclea spp, Dolichos spp., Dorycnium rectum, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Ehraffia spp., Eleusine coracana, Eragrestis spp., Erythrina spp., Eucalyptus spp., Euclea schimperi, Eulalia vi/losa, Pagopyrum spp., Feijoa sellowlana, Fragaria spp., Flemingia spp, Freycinetia banksli, Geranium thunbergii, GinAgo biloba, Glycine javanica, Gliricidia spp, Gossypium hirsutum, Grevillea spp., Guibourtia coleosperma, Hedysarum spp., Hemaffhia altissima, Heteropogon contoffus, Hordeum vulgare, Hyparrhenia rufa, Hypericum erectum, Hypeffhelia dissolute, Indigo incamata, Iris spp., Leptarrhena pyrolifolia, Lespediza spp., Lettuca spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Loudetia simplex, Lotonus bainesli, Lotus spp., Macrotyloma axillare, Malus spp., Manihot esculenta, Medicago saliva, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Musa sapientum, Nicotianum spp., Onobrychis spp., Ornithopus spp., Oryza spp., Peltophorum africanum, Pennisetum spp., Persea gratissima, Petunia spp., Phaseolus spp., Phoenix canariensis, Phormium cookianum, Photinia spp., Picea glauca, Pinus spp., Pisum sativam, Podocarpus totara, Pogonarthria fleckii, Pogonaffhria squarrosa, Populus spp., Prosopis cineraria, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pterolobium stellatum, Pyrus communis, Quercus spp., Rhaphiolepsis umbellata, Rhopalostylis sapida, Rhus natalensis, Ribes grossularia, Ribes spp., Robinia pseudoacacia, Rosa spp., Rubus spp., Salix spp., Schyzachyrium sanguineum, Sciadopitys vefficillata, Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sorghum bicolor, Spinacia spp., Sporobolus fimbriatus, Stiburus alopecuroides, Stylosanthos humilis, Tadehagi spp, Taxodium distichum, Themeda triandra, Trifolium spp., Triticum spp., Tsuga heterophylla, Vaccinium spp., Vicia spp., Vitis vinifera, Watsonia pyramidata, Zantedeschia aethiopica, Zea mays, amaranth, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, canola, carrot, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, flax, kale, lentil, oilseed rape, okra, onion, potato, rice, soybean, straw, sugar beet, sugar cane, sunflower, tomato, squash tea, maize, wheat, barley, rye, oat, peanut, pea, lentil and alfalfa, cotton, rapeseed, canola, pepper, sunflower, tobacco, eggplant, eucalyptus, a tree, an ornamental plant, a perennial grass and a forage crop. Alternatively algae and other non-Viridiplantae can be used for the methods of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant used by the method of the invention is a crop plant including, but not limited to, cotton, Brassica vegetables, oilseed rape, sesame, olive tree, palm oil, banana, wheat, corn or maize, barley, alfalfa, peanuts, sunflowers, rice, oats, sugarcane, soybean, turf grasses, barley, rye, sorghum, sugar cane, chicory, lettuce, tomato, zucchini, bell pepper, eggplant, cucumber, melon, watermelon, beans, hibiscus, okra, apple, rose, strawberry, chili, garlic, pea, lentil, canola, mums, arabidopsis, broccoli, cabbage, beet, quinoa, spinach, squash, onion, leek, tobacco, potato, sugarbeet, papaya, pineapple, mango, Arabidopsis thaliana, and also plants used in horticulture, floriculture or forestry, such as, but not limited to, poplar, fir, eucalyptus, pine, an ornamental plant, a perennial grass and a forage crop, coniferous plants, moss, algae, as well as other plants listed in World Wide Web (dot) nationmaster (dot) com/encyclopedia/Plantae.

According to a specific embodiment, the plant is selected from the group consisting of corn, rice, wheat, tomato, cotton and sorghum.

According to a specific embodiment, the seed is an uncoated or fresh seed that hasn't been subjected to chemical/physical treatments.

Washing of the seeds is effected for 30 min to 4 hours. Other exemplary wash ranges are 1 minute to 10 minutes, 10 minutes-30 minutes. The wash solution may include a weak detergent such as Tween-20. The concentration of the detergent may be 0.01-0.2% or 0.2-1%.

The seed may be subjected to priming or washing prior to contacting with the dsRNA.

As used herein the term “priming” refers to controlling the hydration level within seeds so that the metabolic activity necessary for germination can occur but radicle emergence is prevented. Different physiological activities within the seed occur at different moisture levels (Leopold and Vertucci, 1989; Taylor, 1997). The last physiological activity in the germination process is radicle emergence. The initiation of radicle emergence requires a high seed water content. By limiting seed water content, all the metabolic steps necessary for germination can occur without the irreversible act of radicle emergence. Prior to radicle emergence, the seed is considered desiccation tolerant, thus the primed seed moisture content can be decreased by drying. After drying, primed seeds can be stored until time of sowing.

Several different priming methods are used commercially. Among them, liquid or osmotic priming and solid matrix priming appear to have the greatest following (Khan et al., 1991).

According to an embodiment of the invention, priming is effected in the presence of salt, a chelating agent, polyethylene glycol or a combination of same (e.g., chelating agent and salt).

Alternatively priming is effected in the presence of water such as deionized water or double deionized water. According to a specific embodiment, the priming is effected in the presence of 100% ddW.

Several types of seed priming are commonly used:

Osmopriming (osmoconditioning)—is the standard priming technique. Seeds are incubated in well aerated solutions with a low water potential, and afterwards washes and dried. The low water potential of the solutions can be achieved by adding osmotica like mannitol, polyethyleneglycol (PEG) or salts like KCl.

Hydropriming (drum priming)—is achieved by continuous or successive addition of a limited amount of water to the seeds. A drum is used for this purpose and the water can also be applied by humid air. ‘On-farm steeping’ is a cheap and useful technique that is practiced by incubating seeds (cereals, legumes) for a limited time in warm water.

Matrixpriming (matriconditioning)—is the incubation of seeds in a solid, insoluble matrix (vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, cross-linked highly water-absorbent polymers) with a limited amount of water. This method confers a slow imbibition.

Pregerminated seeds—is only possible with a few species. In contrast to normal priming, seeds are allowed to perform radicle protrusion. This is followed by sorting for specific stages, a treatment that reinduces desiccation tolerance, and drying. The use of pregerminated seeds causes rapid and uniform seedling development.

Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, the seeds are primed seeds.

Of note, it may be possible that the seeds are treated with water (double-distilled water, ddW), prior to contacting with the dsRNA without effecting any priming on the seeds. For instance, treatment for a short while with water (e.g., 30 seconds to 1 hours, 30 seconds to 0.5 hour, 30 seconds to 10 min, 30 seconds to 5 min or 45 seconds to 5 min).

It will be appreciated that the dsRNA can be comprised in water (e.g., tap water, distilled water or double distilled water) i.e., free of any of the above mentioned priming effective concentration of salts, a chelating agents, polyethylene glycol or combinations of same (e.g., chelating agent and salt).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the seeds are non-primed seeds.

A non-limiting exemplary method of introducing the dsRNA into the seed is provided in Example 1, which is considered as an integral part of the specification.

The temperature at the washing/priming and drying steps may be the same or differ.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the washing/priming is effected at 4-28° C.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the priming/washing solution or the dsRNA containing solution is devoid of a solid carrier.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the priming/washing solution or the dsRNA containing solution is devoid of a transferring agent such as a surfactant or a salt.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the seeds subject to contacting with the dsRNA molecule are washed in order to remove agents, to which the seeds have been subjected, such as a pesticide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a fertilizer, a coating agent and a coloring agent.

Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, the seeds (prior to treatment with dsRNA) are substantially free (i.e., do not comprise effective amounts) of pesticide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a fertilizer, a coating agent and a coloring agent.

The seeds are then subjected to drying.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the drying is effected at 20-37° C., 20-30° C., 22-37° C., 15-22° C. or 20-25° C. for 10-20 hours, 10-16 hours or even 2-5 hours.

Various considerations are to be taken when calculating the concentration of the naked dsRNA in the contacting solution.

These are dependent on at least one of seed size, seed weight, seed volume, seed surface area, seed density and seed permeability.

For example, related to seed size, weight, volume and surface area, it is estimated that corn seeds will require longer treatment than Arabidopsis and tomato seeds. Regarding permeability and density, it is estimated that wheat seeds will require longer treatments at higher concentrations than tomato seeds.

Exemplary concentrations of dsRNA in the treating solution include, but are not limited to, 0.01-0.3 μg/μl, 0.01-0.15 μg/μl, 0.04-0.15 μg/μl, 0.1-100 μg/μl; 0.1-50 μg/μl, 0.1-10 μg/μl, 0.1-5 μg/μl, 0.1-1 μg/μl, 0.1-0.5 μg/μl, 0.15-0.5 μg/μl, 0.1-0.3 μg/μl, 0.01-0.1 μg/μl, 0.01-0.05 μg/μl, 0.02-0.04 μg/μl, 0.001-0.02 μg/μl. According to a specific embodiment, the concentration of the dsRNA in the treating solution is 0.01-0.15 or 0.04-0.15 μg/μl.

According to a specific embodiment, the contacting with the dsRNA is effected in the presence of a chelating agent such as EDTA or another chelating agent such as DTPA (0.01-0.1 mM).

The contacting solution may comprise a transferring agent such as a surfactant or a salt.

Examples of such transferring agents include but are not limited salts such as sodium or lithium salts of fatty acids (such as tallow or tallowamines or phospholipids lipofectamine or lipofectin (1-20 nM, or 0.1-1 nM)) and organosilicone surfactants. Other useful surfactants include organosilicone surfactants including nonionic organosilicone surfactants, e.g., trisiloxane ethoxylate surfactants or a silicone polyether copolymer such as a copolymer of polyalkylene oxide modified heptamethyl trisiloxane and allyloxypolypropylene glycol methylether (commercially available as Silwet™ L-77 surfactant having CAS Number 27306-78-1 and EPA Number: CAL.REG.NO. 5905-50073-AA, currently available from Momentive Performance Materials, Albany, N.Y.).

Useful physical agents can include (a) abrasives such as carborundum, corundum, sand, calcite, pumice, garnet, and the like, (b) nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes or (c) a physical force. Carbon nanotubes are disclosed by Kam et al. (2004) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126 (22):6850-6851, Liu et al. (2009) Nano Lett., 9(3):1007-1010, and Khodakovskaya et al. (2009) ACS Nano, 3(10):3221-3227. Physical force agents can include heating, chilling, the application of positive pressure, or ultrasound treatment. Agents for laboratory conditioning of a plant to permeation by polynucleotides include, e.g., application of a chemical agent, enzymatic treatment, heating or chilling, treatment with positive or negative pressure, or ultrasound treatment. Agents for conditioning plants in a field include chemical agents such as surfactants and salts.

Contacting of the seeds with the dsRNA can be effected using any method known in the art as long as a suppressive amount of the dsRNA enters the seeds. These examples include, but are not limited to, soaking, spraying or coating with powder, emulsion, suspension, or solution; similarly, the polynucleotide molecules are applied to the plant by any convenient method, e.g., spraying or wiping a solution, emulsion, or suspension.

As used herein “a suppressive amount” refers to an amount of dsRNA which is sufficient to down regulate the target gene by at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or more, say 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or more even 100%. The suppressive amount can be a result of the formation of amplification in the plant.

According to a specific embodiment contacting may be effected by soaking (i.e., inoculation) so that shaking the seeds with the treating solution may improve penetration and soaking and therefore reduce treatment time. Shaking is typically performed at 50-150 RPM and depends on the volume of the treating solution. Shaking may be effected for 4-24 hours (1-4 hours, 10 minutes to 1 hour or 30 seconds to 10 minutes). The present teachings further envisage short incubation time such as up to 10 minutes. Examples include but are not limited to 30 seconds to 7 min, to 30 seconds to 5 min, to 30 seconds to 3 min, to 30 seconds to 2 min, to 30 seconds to 1 min, 1 min to 10 min or to 1 min to 5 min. Dipping is also considered under the scope of the present invention. Thus, the seeds are dipped into the dsRNA solution for seconds e.g., 1-10 seconds, 1-5 seconds, 1-3 seconds or 1-2 seconds. During this period, the dsRNA may adsorb on the seed surface. The adsorbed dsRNA which coats the seed may penetrate the seed or the seedling during germination. The incubation takes place in the dark at 4-28° C. or 15-22° C. (e.g., 8-15° C., 4-8° C., 22-28° C.).

According to a specific embodiment, contacting occurs prior to breaking of seed dormancy and embryo emergence.

Following contacting, preferably prior to breaking of seed dormancy and embryo emergence, the seeds may be subjected to treatments (e.g., coating) with the above agents (e.g., pesticide, fungicide etc.).

Contacting is effected such that the dsRNA enters the embryo, endosperm, the coat, or a combination of the three.

After contacting with the treatment solution, the seeds may be subjected to drying for up to 30 hours at 25-37° C. For example, the seeds may be dried for 16 hours at 30° C.

According to a specific embodiment, the seed (e.g., isolated seed) comprises the exogenous naked dsRNA and wherein at least 10 or 20 molecules of the dsRNA are in the endosperm of the isolated seed.

As used herein the term “isolated” refers to separation from the natural physiological environment. In the case of seed, the isolated seed is separated from other parts of the plant. In the case of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., dsRNA) separated from the cytoplasm.

According to a specific embodiment, the dsRNA is not expressed from the plant genome, thereby not being an integral part of the genome.

According to a specific embodiment there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA being present at a similar concentration (e.g., about 1:1, 2:1 or 1:2) in an embryo and an endosperm of the seed. It is suggested that the direct introduction of the naked dsRNA to the seed results in higher concentration of the dsRNA in the endosperm than that observed when the dsRNA is expressed from a nucleic acid expression construct.

According to a specific embodiment there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA being spatially distributed in an embryo and an endosperm of the plant seed in a spatial distribution that differs from a spatial distribution of the exogenous dsRNA in a seed derived from a transgenic plant that recombinantly expresses said exogenous dsRNA.

Methods of measuring the localization of RNA molecules in the seed are well known in the art. The use of siGlo as described in the Examples section is an example for such.

According to an alternative or an additional embodiment, there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA, wherein a concentration ratio of said exogenous dsRNA to siRNA maturing therefrom is higher in the seed as compared to a transgenic seed recombinantly expressing said exogenous dsRNA.

As used herein the term “higher” refers to at least about 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or even a few folds higher.

According to an alternative or an additional embodiment, there is provided an isolated seed comprising an exogenous dsRNA, wherein the plant seed is devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of said exogenous dsRNA, wherein a spatial distribution of said exogenous dsRNA and/or siRNA maturing therefrom is altered in the seed as compared to same in a transgenic seed recombinantly expressing said exogenous dsRNA.

The term “recombinantly expressing” refers to an expression from a nucleic acid construct.

According to a further embodiment there is provided a plant seed obtainable (or obtained) by any of the methods described herein.

Methods of qualifying successful introduction of the dsRNA include but are not limited to, RT-PCR (e.g., quantifying the level of the target gene or the naked dsRNA), phenotypic analysis such as biomass, vigor, yield and stress tolerance, root architecture, leaf dimensions, grain size and weight, oil content, cellulose, as well as cell biology techniques.

According to embodiments of the invention, up regulation of the gene targeted by the Seed treatment, as described herein, is sometimes observed. This has been mostly noted in genes that function as master regulators, such as targets of microRNAs (e.g. SPL and NAC) and other genes involved in regulating key processes (e.g. HY5). See for instance Examples 23 and 32 of the Examples section which follows.

Without being bound by theory, it is suggested that this phenomenon could be related to a potential feedback loop in the regulation of the expression of these genes. These genes are probably tightly regulated and therefore plants could react to changes in their expression in one direction by over compensating a strong change in the genes' expression in the opposite direction. Accordingly, it is possible for example that a gene will initially present down-regulation in the first hours or days following treatment, which could be altered into up-regulation later on in the plant's life cycle. See for instance Example 32 of the Examples section which follows. Thus, the present inventors observed up regulation of the NAC gene in corn five days following treatment and down regulation 10 and 12 days following treatment. This was further substantiated in lettuce for the Hy 5.5 or 5.6 gene.

Seeds may be stored for 1 day to several months prior to planting (e.g., at 4-10° C.).

The resultant seed can be germinated in the dark so as to produce a plant.

Thus there is provided a plant or plant part comprising an exogenous naked dsRNA and devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of the dsRNA in the plant.

As used herein “devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of the dsRNA” means that the plant or plant cell doesn't include a cis-acting regulatory sequence (e.g., heterologous) transcribing the dsRNA in the plant. As used herein the term “heterologous” refers to exogenous, not-naturally occurring within the native plant cell (such as by position of integration, or being non-naturally found within the plant cell). Thus the isolated seed in the absence of a heterologous promoter sequence for driving expression of the dsRNA in the plant, comprises a homogenic (prior to amplification) or heterogenic (secondary siRNAs, following amplification) population of plant non-transcribable dsRNA.

The present methodology can be used for modulating gene expression such as in a plant, the method comprising:

(a) contacting a seed of the plant with a naked dsRNA, under conditions which allow penetration of the dsRNA into the seed, thereby introducing the dsRNA into the seed; and optionally (b) generating a plant of the seed.

When used for down-regulating a plant gene, the naked dsRNA is designed of the desired specificity using bioinformatic tools which are well known in the art (e.g., BLAST).

This methodology can be used in various applications starting from basic research such as in order to assess gene function and lasting in generating plants with altered traits which have valuable commercial use.

Such plants can exhibit agricultural beneficial traits including altered morphology, altered flowering, altered tolerance to stress (i.e., viral biotic stress and/or abiotic), altered biomass vigor and/or yield and the like.

The phrase “abiotic stress” as used herein refers to any adverse effect on metabolism, growth, viability and/or reproduction of a plant. Abiotic stress can be induced by any of suboptimal environmental growth conditions such as, for example, water deficit or drought, flooding, freezing, low or high temperature, strong winds, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, high or low nutrient levels (e.g. nutrient deficiency), high or low salt levels (e.g. salinity), atmospheric pollution, high or low light intensities (e.g. insufficient light) or UV irradiation. Abiotic stress may be a short term effect (e.g. acute effect, e.g. lasting for about a week) or alternatively may be persistent (e.g. chronic effect, e.g. lasting for example 10 days or more). The present invention contemplates situations in which there is a single abiotic stress condition or alternatively situations in which two or more abiotic stresses occur.

According to an exemplary embodiment the abiotic stress refers to salinity.

According to another exemplary embodiment the abiotic stress refers to drought.

According to another exemplary embodiment the abiotic stress refers to a temperature stress.

As used herein the phrase “abiotic stress tolerance” refers to the ability of a plant to endure an abiotic stress without exhibiting substantial physiological or physical damage (e.g. alteration in metabolism, growth, viability and/or reproducibility of the plant).

As used herein the phrase “nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)” refers to a measure of crop production per unit of nitrogen fertilizer input. Fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) is a measure of NUE. Crop production can be measured by biomass, vigor or yield. The plant's nitrogen use efficiency is typically a result of an alteration in at least one of the uptake, spread, absorbance, accumulation, relocation (within the plant) and use of nitrogen absorbed by the plant. Improved NUE is with respect to that of a non-transgenic plant (i.e., lacking the transgene of the transgenic plant) of the same species and of the same developmental stage and grown under the same conditions.

As used herein the phrase “nitrogen-limiting conditions” refers to growth conditions which include a level (e.g., concentration) of nitrogen (e.g., ammonium or nitrate) applied which is below the level needed for optimal plant metabolism, growth, reproduction and/or viability.

As used herein the term/phrase “biomass”, “biomass of a plant” or “plant biomass” refers to the amount (e.g., measured in grams of air-dry tissue) of a tissue produced from the plant in a growing season. An increase in plant biomass can be in the whole plant or in parts thereof such as aboveground (e.g. harvestable) parts, vegetative biomass, roots and/or seeds or contents thereof (e.g., oil, starch etc.).

As used herein the term/phrase “vigor”, “vigor of a plant” or “plant vigor” refers to the amount (e.g., measured by weight) of tissue produced by the plant in a given time. Increased vigor could determine or affect the plant yield or the yield per growing time or growing area. In addition, early vigor (e.g. seed and/or seedling) results in improved field stand.

As used herein the term/phrase “yield”, “yield of a plant” or “plant yield” refers to the amount (e.g., as determined by weight or size) or quantity (e.g., numbers) of tissues or organs produced per plant or per growing season. Increased yield of a plant can affect the economic benefit one can obtain from the plant in a certain growing area and/or growing time.

According to an exemplary embodiment the yield is measured by cellulose content, oil content, starch content and the like.

According to another exemplary embodiment the yield is measured by oil content.

According to another exemplary embodiment the yield is measured by protein content.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the yield is measured by seed number, seed weight, fruit number or fruit weight per plant or part thereof (e.g., kernel, bean).

A plant yield can be affected by various parameters including, but not limited to, plant biomass; plant vigor; plant growth rate; seed yield; seed or grain quantity; seed or grain quality; oil yield; content of oil, starch and/or protein in harvested organs (e.g., seeds or vegetative parts of the plant); number of flowers (e.g. florets) per panicle (e.g. expressed as a ratio of number of filled seeds over number of primary panicles); harvest index; number of plants grown per area; number and size of harvested organs per plant and per area; number of plants per growing area (e.g. density); number of harvested organs in field; total leaf area; carbon assimilation and carbon partitioning (e.g. the distribution/allocation of carbon within the plant); resistance to shade; number of harvestable organs (e.g. seeds), seeds per pod, weight per seed; and modified architecture [such as increase stalk diameter, thickness or improvement of physical properties (e.g. elasticity)].

Improved plant NUE is translated in the field into either harvesting similar quantities of yield, while implementing less fertilizers, or increased yields gained by implementing the same levels of fertilizers. Thus, improved NUE or FUE has a direct effect on plant yield in the field.

As used herein the term “improving” or “increasing” refers to at least about 2%, at least about 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90% or greater increase in NUE, in tolerance to stress, in yield, in biomass or in vigor of a plant, as compared to a native or wild-type plants [i.e., isogenic plants (not modified to comprise the dsRNA) of the invention].

As mentioned, the target gene of the dsRNA may not be an endogenous plant gene but rather a gene exogenous to the plant, such as that of a plant virus or bacteria which feeds on the plant or depends thereon for growth, replication and/or survival.

Thus, according to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of inhibiting expression of a target gene in a plant virus, the method comprising providing (contacting under infecting conditions) to the plant virus the plant as described herein (at least part thereof includes the naked dsRNA), thereby inhibiting expression of a target gene in the plant virus.

A number of virus genera are transmitted, both persistently and non-persistently, by soil borne zoosporic protozoa. These protozoa are not viral pathogenic themselves, but parasitic. Transmission of the virus takes place when they become associated with the plant roots. Examples include Polymyxa graminis, which has been shown to transmit plant viral diseases in cereal crops and Polymyxa betae which transmits Beet necrotic yellow vein virus. Plasmodiophorids also create wounds in the plant's root through which other viruses can enter.

Specific examples of viruses which can be targeted according to the present teachings include, but are not limited to:

(1) Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, RNA virus) which infects plants, especially tobacco and other members of the family Solanaceae). (2) Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV, RNA virus) which causes serious diseases of many economically important plants representing 35 plant families, including dicots and monocots. This wide host range of ornamentals, vegetables, and field crops is unique among plant-infecting viruses. Belongs to tospoviruses in the Mediterranean area, affect vegetable crops, especially tomato, pepper and lettuce (Turina et al., 2012, Adv Virus Res 84; 403-437). (3) Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) which is transmitted by whitefly, mostly affects tomato plants. Geminiviruses (DNA viruses) in the genus Begomovirus (including sweepoviruses and legumoviruses)—most devastating pathogens affecting a variety of cultivated crops, including cassava, sweet potato, beans, tomato, cotton and grain legumes (Rey et al 2012, Viruses 4; 1753-1791). Members include TYLCV above and tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV). (4) Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)—CMV has a wide range of hosts and attacks a great variety of vegetables, ornamentals, and other plants (as many as 191 host species in 40 families). Among the most important vegetables affected by cucumber mosaic are peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), cucurbits, tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), and bananas (Musa L. spp.).

Other vegetable hosts include: cucumber, muskmelon, squash, tomato, spinach, celery, peppers, water cress, beet, sweet potato, turnip, chayote, gherkin, watermelon, pumpkin, citron, gourd, lima bean, broad bean, onion, ground-cherry, eggplant, potato, rhubarb, carrot, dill, fennel, parsnip, parsley, loofah, and artichoke (Chabbouh and Chemf, 1990, FAO Plant Prot. Bull. 38:52-53.).

Ornamental hosts include: China aster, chrysanthemum, delphinium, salvia, geranium, gilia, gladiolus, heliotrope, hyacinth, larkspur, lily, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium, periwinkle, petunia, phlox, snapdragon, tulip, and zinnia (Chupp and Sherf, 1960; Agrios, 1978).

(5) Potato virus Y (PVY)—one of the most important plant viruses affecting potato production. (6) Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV, DNA virus (Rothnie et al., 1994)). (7) African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV). (8) Plum pox virus (PPV) is the most devastating viral disease of stone fruit from the genus Prunus. (9) Brome mosaic virus (BMV)—commonly infects Bromus inermis and other grasses, can be found almost anywhere wheat is grown. (10) Potato virus X (PVX)—There are no insect or fungal vectors for this virus. This virus causes mild or no symptoms in most potato varieties, but when Potato virus Y is present, synergy between these two viruses causes severe symptoms in potatoes.

Additional Viruses:

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV)—causes the most economically damaging disease to Citrus, including sour orange (Citrus aurantium), and any Citrus species grafted onto sour orange root stock, sweet orange (C. sinensis), grapefruit (C. paradisi), lime and Seville orange (C. aurantifolia), and mandarin (C. reticulata). CTV is also known to infect Aeglopsis chevalieri, Afraegle paniculata, Pamburus missionis, and Passiflora gracilis. CTV is distributed worldwide and can be found wherever citrus trees grow.

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)—most widely distributed viral disease of cereals. It affects the economically important crop species barley, oats, wheat, maize, triticale and rice.

Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) infects potatoes and other members of the family Solanaceae.

Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), RNA virus, a member of the genus Tombusvirus and mostly affects tomatoes and eggplant.

Additional Reviews:

Hamilton et al., 1981, J Gen Virol 54; 223-241—mentions TMV, PVX, PVY, CMV, CaMV.

Additional Scientific Papers:

Makkouk et al., 2012, Adv Virus Res 84; 367-402-Viruses affecting peas and beans with narrow (Faba bean necrotic yellow virus (FBNYN)) and wide (alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and CMV) host range.

The target gene of the plant virus encodes a product essential to the viability and/or infectivity of the viral pathogen, therefore its down-regulation (by the naked dsRNA) results in a reduced capability of the pathogen to survive and infect host cells. Hence, such down-regulation results in a “deleterious effect” on the maintenance viability and/or infectivity of the viral pathogen, in that it prevents or reduces the pathogen's ability to feed off and survive on nutrients derived from host cells. By virtue of this reduction in the viral pathogen's viability and/or infectivity, resistance and/or enhanced tolerance to infection by a pathogen is facilitated in the cells of the plant. Genes in the pathogen may be targeted at the mature (adult), immature (juvenile) or embryo stages.

As used herein, a “plant virus resistance” trait is a characteristic of a plant that causes the plant host to be resistant to attack from a viral pathogen that typically is capable of inflicting damage or loss to the plant. Once the viral pathogen is provided with the plant material comprising the naked dsRNA, expression of the gene within the target virus is suppressed by the dsRNA, and the suppression of expression of the gene in the target virus results in the plant being resistant to the virus.

To substantiate the anti-viral activity, the present teachings also contemplate observing reduced infectability or replicability and the degree of host symptomatology following said providing.

To improve the anti-viral activity, embodiments of the present invention further provide a composition that contains two or more different agents each toxic to the same plant virus, at least one of which comprises a dsRNA described herein. In certain embodiments, the second agent can be an agent selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of metabolic enzymes involved in amino acid or carbohydrate synthesis; inhibitors of cell division; cell wall synthesis inhibitors; inhibitors of DNA or RNA synthesis, gyrase inhibitors, tubulin assembly inhibitors, inhibitors of ATP synthesis; oxidative phosphorylation uncouplers; inhibitors of protein synthesis; MAP kinase inhibitors; lipid synthesis or oxidation inhibitors; sterol synthesis inhibitors; and melanin synthesis inhibitors.

In addition, plants generated according to the teachings of the present invention or parts thereof can exhibit altered nutritional or therapeutic efficacy and as such can be employed in the food or feed and drug industries. Likewise, the plants generated according to the teachings of the present invention or parts thereof can exhibit altered oil or cellulose content and as such can be implemented in the construction or oil industry.

The seeds of the present invention can be packed in a seed containing device which comprises a plurality of seeds at least some of which (e.g., 5%, 10% or more) containing an exogenous naked dsRNA, wherein the seed is devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of the dsRNA.

The seed containing device can be a bag, a plastic bag, a paper bag, a soft shell container or a hard shell container.

Reagents of the present invention can be packed in a kit including the naked dsRNA, instructions for introducing the dsRNA into the seeds and optionally a priming solution.

Compositions of some embodiments of the invention may, if desired, be presented in a pack or dispenser device, which may contain one or more dosage forms containing the active ingredient. The pack may, for example, comprise metal or plastic foil, such as a blister pack. The pack or dispenser device may be accompanied by instructions for introduction to the seed.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the naked dsRNA and priming solution are comprised in separate containers.

As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.

The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”.

The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.

As used herein the term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the chemical, pharmacological, biological, biochemical and medical arts.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Various embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineated hereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find experimental support in the following examples.

EXAMPLES

Reference is now made to the following examples, which together with the above descriptions, illustrate the invention in a non limiting fashion.

Generally, the nomenclature used herein and the laboratory procedures utilized in the present invention include molecular, biochemical, microbiological and recombinant DNA techniques. Such techniques are thoroughly explained in the literature. See, for example, “Molecular Cloning: A laboratory Manual” Sambrook et al., (1989); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” Volumes I-III Ausubel, R. M., ed. (1994); Ausubel et al., “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, John Wiley and Sons, Baltimore, Md. (1989); Perbal, “A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning”, John

Wiley & Sons, New York (1988); Watson et al., “Recombinant DNA”, Scientific American Books, New York; Birren et al. (eds) “Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series”, Vols. 1-4, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1998); methodologies as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,828; 4,683,202; 4,801,531; 5,192,659 and 5,272,057; “Cell Biology: A Laboratory Handbook”, Volumes I-III Cellis, J. E., ed. (1994); “Culture of Animal Cells—A Manual of Basic Technique” by Freshney, Wiley-Liss, N.Y. (1994), Third Edition; “Current Protocols in Immunology” Volumes I-III Coligan J. E., ed. (1994); Stites et al. (eds), “Basic and Clinical Immunology” (8th Edition), Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, Conn. (1994); Mishell and Shiigi (eds), “Selected Methods in Cellular Immunology”, W. H. Freeman and Co., New York (1980); available immunoassays are extensively described in the patent and scientific literature, see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,791,932; 3,839,153; 3,850,752; 3,850,578; 3,853,987; 3,867,517; 3,879,262; 3,901,654; 3,935,074; 3,984,533; 3,996,345; 4,034,074; 4,098,876; 4,879,219; 5,011,771 and 5,281,521; “Oligonucleotide Synthesis” Gait, M. J., ed. (1984); “Nucleic Acid Hybridization” Hames, B. D., and Higgins S. J., eds. (1985); “Transcription and Translation” Hames, B. D., and Higgins S. J., eds. (1984); “Animal Cell Culture” Freshney, R. I., ed. (1986); “Immobilized Cells and Enzymes” IRL Press, (1986); “A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning” Perbal, B., (1984) and “Methods in Enzymology” Vol. 1-317, Academic Press; “PCR Protocols: A Guide To Methods And Applications”, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990); Marshak et al., “Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization—A Laboratory Course Manual” CSHL Press (1996); all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Other general references are provided throughout this document. The procedures therein are believed to be well known in the art and are provided for the convenience of the reader. All the information contained therein is incorporated herein by reference.

Example 1 Protocols for dsRNA Production and Seed Treatment

Generating the dsRNA/siRNA Sequences

The dsRNA sequences were custom-created for each gene using in vitro transcription of PCR products. Part of the mRNA, including either the ORF, 3′ UTR or 5′ UTR for which dsRNA to be produced was PCR-amplified using gene-specific primers, which contain the sequence of the T7 promoter on either side. This product was used as a template for dsRNA production using commercial kits such as the MaxiScript dsRNA kit (Life Technologies) or T7 High Yield RNA Synthesis kit (NEB). Next, the sample is treated with DNase Turbo at 37° C. for 15-30 min followed by phenol treatment and nucleic acid precipitation. Next, one of two different reactions is carried out: (1) dsRNA is ready to use, (2) processing of the dsRNA with Dicer (Shortcut RNase III (NEB)) to create small interfering RNAs (siRNA).

Either dsRNA or a combination of dsRNA and siRNA were used for seed treatments as described below. All dsRNA sequences provided herein are listed as DNA (simple transformation is done by converting T>U).

General Seed Treatment Protocol for Gene Silencing Using a dsRNA/siRNA Mixture

Uncoated organic corn seeds were from variety “popcorn”, uncoated organic whole grain rice seeds and organic soybean were purchased from Nitsat Haduvdevan (Israel). Wheat seeds were from A.B. Seeds (Israel). Lettuce seeds were from the variety Sun Valley. Fresh tomato seeds were retrieved from M82 tomato fruits, which are propagated in-house. Uncoated or fresh plant seeds were washed with double distilled water (DDW) prior to treatment for four hours. Next, seeds were dried at 20-30° C. for up to 24 hours. Following the drying step, seeds were treated with a solution containing the dsRNA formulation, which is made of dsRNA at a final concentration of 1-261 μg/ml in 0.1 mM EDTA. Treatment was performed by gently shaking the seeds in the solution for up to 60 hours in a dark growth chamber at 15-25° C. Finally, seeds were washed up to three times briefly and planted on soil or germinated at 25° C. in a dark growth chamber and planted in soil or dried for 0-30 hours and germinated at 25° C. in a dark growth chamber and planted in soil or planted directly in soil. Control seeds were treated in a similar way, with a formulation that lacked the dsRNA or with non-specific dsRNA.

Example 2 Stability of the dsRNA in Seedlings of Rice, Tomato and Sorghum

As an example for an exogenous gene that is not present/expressed in plants, the ORFs encoding the replicase and coat protein of CGMMV (Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, accession number AF417242) were used as targets for dsRNA treatment of plant seeds using the protocol described in Example 1. Rice, tomato and sorghum seeds were washed for 4 hours at 20° C., tomato and sorghum were dried at 30° C. and rice at 20° C. for overnight. Seeds were immediately treated at 15° C. with 132.7 μg/ml dsRNA (final concentration) for 39 hours for rice, as shown in FIG. 1; 93.8 μg/ml dsRNA (final concentration) for 48 hours for tomato as shown in FIG. 2A and 75 μg/ml dsRNA (final concentration) for 40 hours for sorghum as shown in FIG. 2B. Briefly, the virus-derived ORFs were amplified by PCR with specifically designed forward and reverse primers that contain the T7 sequence (5′-TAATACGACTCACTATAGGG-3′, SEQ ID NO: 1) at their 5′ (see Table 1, below). PCR products were purified from agarose gel and since they carry T7 promoters at both ends they were used as templates for T7-dependent in-vitro transcription, resulting in dsRNA product of the CGMMV genes. PCR on a housekeeping gene, tubulin, was used as a positive control (forward primer 5′-GGTGCTCTGAACGTGGATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 2), and reverse primer 5′-CATCATCGCCATCCTCATTCTC-3′(SEQ ID NO: 3)).

TABLE 1 PCR primers served as Templates for in vitro Transcription and detection of CGMMV, and CGMMV dsRNA products. Forward Reverse Virus Product Product Sequence/ primer/ primer/ Name Name SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: 1) CGMMV CGMM TAATACGACTCACTATAGGGGGTAAG TAATACGACT Set 1: (NCBI V CGGCATTCTAAACCTCCAAATCGGAG CACTATAGGG TAATACGA Accession dsRNA GTTGGACTCTGCTTCTGAAGAGTCCA GGTAAGCGGC CTCACTATA number product 1 GTTCTGTTTCTTTTGAAGATGGCTTAC ATTCTAAACC/ GGGGAAGA AF417242) AATCCGATCACACCTAGCAAACTTAT 5 CCCTCGAA TGCGTTTAGTGCTTCTTATGTTCCCGT CTTCTTATGT ACTAAGC/4 CAGGACTTTACTTAATTTTCTAGTTGC TCCCGTCAGG/ Set 2: TTCACAAGGTACCGCTTTCCAGACTC 7 ACTCAGCA AAGCGGGAAGAGATTCTTTCCGCGAG GTCGTAGG TCCCTGTCTGCGTTACCCTCGTCTGTC ATTG/6 GTAGATATTAATTCTAGATTCCCAGA TGCGGGTTTTTACGCTTTCCTCAACGG TCCTGTGTTGAGGCCTATCTTCGTTTC GCTTCTCAGCTCCACGGATACGCGTA ATAGGGTCATTGAGGTTGTAGATCCT AGCAATCCTACGACTGCTGAGTCGCT TAACGCCGTAAAGCGTACTGATGACG CGTCTACGGCCGCTAGGGCTGAGATA GATAATTTAATAGAGTCTATTTCTAA GGGTTTTGATGTTTACGATAGGGCTTC ATTTGAAGCCGCGTTTTCGGTAGTCTG GTCAGAGGCTACCACCTCGAAAGCTT AGTTTCGAGGGTCTTCCCCTATAGTG AGTCGTATTA/8 CGMM TAATACGACTCACTATAGGGGCTTTA TAATACGACT Set 3: V CCGCCACTAAGAACTCTGTACACTCC CACTATAGGG TAATACGA dsRNA CTTGCGGGTGGTCTGAGGCTTCTTGA GCTTTACCGC CTCACTATA product 2 ATTGGAATATATGATGATGCAAGTGC CACTAAGAAC/ GGGCATCA CCTACGGCTCACCTTGTTATGACATCG 10 CCATCGAC GCGGTAACTATACGCAGCACTTGTTC CCTAAAC/9 AAAGGTAGATCATATGTGCATTGCTG CAATCCGTGCCTAGATCTTAAAGATG TTGCGAGGAATGTGATGTACAACGAT ATGATCACGCAACATGTACAGAGGCA CAAGGGATCTGGCGGGTGCAGACCTC TTCCAACTTTCCAGATAGATGCATTCA GGAGGTACGATAGTTCTCCCTGTGCG GTCACCTGTTCAGACGTTTTCCAAGA GTGTTCCTATGATTTTGGGAGTGGTA GGGATAATCATGCAGTCTCGTTGCAT TCAATCTACGATATCCCTTATTCTTCG ATCGGACCTGCTCTTCATAGGAAAAA TGTGCGAGTTTGTTATGCAGCCTTTCA TTTCTCGGAGGCATTGCTTTTAGGTTC GCCTGTAGGTAATTTAAATAGTATTG GGGCTCAGTTTAGGGTCGATGGTGAT GCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTA/11

The exogenous dsRNA was found to be stable for at least three weeks in rice seedlings as can be seen in FIGS. 1A-C and at least 10 days in tomato seedlings and four weeks in Sorghum plants as can be seen in FIGS. 2A-B.

Example 3 The dsRNA is not Integrated into the Genome of Rice

Rice seeds were treated with an exogenous dsRNA as in Example 2. Plants were germinated and grown for five weeks, DNA was extracted and PCR reactions were performed to demonstrate that the dsRNA did not integrate into the Rice's genome (FIG. 3). Two sets of primers that gave a positive reaction when checked on the RNA level were used, set 1 (see Table 1) of primers were the set of primers used to amplify the template (all the dsRNA sequence). Set 2 (see Table 1) are the primers that were used in the PCR on FIG. 1. A Rice endogenous housekeeping gene (tubulin) was used as a positive control for the PCR reaction (see Table 2).

TABLE 2 Tubulin Primers Used for PCR Amplification. Primer Name and Primer Sequence/ Primer Direction (SEQ ID NO:) Length osa_TubA1_736F GGTGCTCTGAACGTGGATG/12 19 osa_TubA1_1342R CATCATCGCCATCCTCATTCTC/13 22

Example 4 Exogenous dsRNA Molecules are Highly Stable and do not Get Incorporated into the Genome of Treated Plants

Corn seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, seeds were washed for 4 h at 20° C., dried at 30° C. overnight and immediately treated with 40 μg/ml dsRNA (final concentration) directed against the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene for 60 hours at 15° C., dried and were germinated. Leaves and roots were harvested from control and dsGUS-treated plants 7 and 15 days following germination. RNA was extracted from the harvested tissues and RT-PCR with specific GUS primers was run (Table 3). In addition, a corn endogenous housekeeping gene (ubiquitin) was used as a positive control for the PCR reaction. The GUS dsRNA molecules were found to be extremely stable in the treated seeds, and can be detected in corn plants 7 and 15 days post germination of the seeds (FIGS. 4A-C). Also, the GUS dsRNA molecules do not get incorporated in the genome of treated corn plants one week after germination (FIGS. 5A-B).

TABLE 3 Primers for PCR Amplification of GUS and Ubiquitin Genes and GUS dsRNA product. Primer Primer Sequence/ Primer Name SEQ ID NO: Length GUS_T7_For TAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGATCGACGGCCTGTGGGCATTC/ 15 GUS_T7_Rev TAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGCATTCCCGGCGGGATAGTCTG/ 43 16 GUS208For CAGCGCGAAGTCTTTATACC/17 43 GUS289Rev CTTTGCCGTAATGAGTGACC/18 20 zmaUBQ-947F CCATAACCCTGGAGGTTGAG/19 20 zmaUBQ1043R ATCAGACGCTGCTGGTCTGG/20 20 GUS dsRNA TAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGATCGACGGCCTGTGGGCATTC product AGTCTGGATCGCGAAAACTGTGGAATTGATCAGCGTTGGTGG GAAAGCGCGTTACAAGAAAGCCGGGCAATTGCTGTGCCAGGC AGTTTTAACGATCAGTTCGCCGATGCAGATATTCGTAATTATG CGGGCAACGTCTGGTATCAGCGCGAAGTCTTTATACCGAAAG GTTGGGCAGGCCAGCGTATCGTGCTGCGTTTCGATGCGGTCAC TCATTACGGCAAAGTGTGGGTCAATAATCAGGAAGTGATGGA GCATCAGGGCGGCTATACGCCATTTGAAGCCGATGTCACGCC GTATGTTATTGCCGGGAAAAGTGTACGTATCACCGTTTGTGTG AACAACGAACTGAACTGGCAGACTATCCCGCCGGGAATGCTC CCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTA/21

Example 5 Fluorescence Microscopy of siRNA Sequences in Various Plant Seeds

Plant seeds were treated as per the protocol described in Example 1. Seeds were washed for 4 h at 20° C., dried at 25° C. and were immediately treated with a fluorescent siRNA (siGLO, 2 μM final concentration, Thermo Scientific) at 15° C. for 24 h.

The quality of the siGLO was verified by gel electrophoresis analysis as can be seen on FIG. 6.

Fluorescent pictures of the seeds were taken 24-48 hours post treatment using an Olympus microscope at the lowest objective magnification (5× for bigger seeds such as rice and tomato seeds, and 10× for smaller seeds such as arabidopsis seeds). To eliminate the possibility of non-specific auto-fluorescence, each dsRNA-treated seed is shown alongside a control seed that was left untreated (FIGS. 7-8).

In order to evaluate the distribution efficiency of the fluorescent siRNA inside the seeds, different plant seeds were cut into slices and imaged with a fluorescent binocular 48 hours after treatment. Each treated seed was imaged alongside a control untreated seed. Light and fluorescent images were taken where applicable for rice, tomato, cucumber, bean, sorghum and wheat seed samples (FIGS. 9-12). It is clear that the siRNA is distributed at various levels between the embryo and the endosperm. This supports the following models:

The dsRNA molecules enter the embryo directly, carried by the water-based solution which is used for the seed treatment.

The dsRNA molecules enter the endosperm as part of the endosperm's water-absorption process. These molecules then feed the embryo as it develops as part of the nutrient flow from the endosperm during germination and seed development.

These present findings suggest the RNA molecules used to treat the seeds both penetrate the embryo and function in the embryo as it develops and also penetrate the endosperm and feed the embryo following germination.

Example 6 Time Course Experiment with siGLO Treatment

A time course experiment was performed on rice seeds to monitor the kinetics of siGLO penetration into the seeds following the seed treatment (FIG. 13). The results indicate that the siRNA efficiently penetrates the plant seeds using the protocol described in Example 1.

Example 7 Silencing the PDS-1 Gene in Rice by a dsRNA/siRNA Mixture

Rice seeds were washed in wash solution for 4 h at 20° C., dried at 25° C. and immediately treated with a mixture of dsRNA/siRNA at a total concentration of 60 μg/ml at 15° C. for 40 hours. Seeds were germinated at room temperature for several days and seed development was monitored. Seeds treated with the PDS and dsRNA/siRNA mixture exhibited stunted and delayed development, as seen by smaller seedlings and reduced rooting. In these experiments, two products of the PDS-1 gene are combined (see Table 4).

TABLE 4 Two PDS-1 Gene Products to be Silenced by dsRNA/siRNA Mixture. NCBI Accession Nucleotide Sequence- Nucleotide Sequence- Gene Name Organism Number Product 1/SEQ ID NO: Product 2/SEQ ID NO: Phytoene Zea mays BT084155.1 TAATACGACTCACTATA TAATACGACTCACTATA Desaturase GGGAGATTGGCGAGCT GGGTGATCGGGTGAACG (PDS-1) TAGGATTGAGGATCGTT ATGAGGTTTTTATTGCAA TACAGTGGAAAGAACA TGTCCAAGGCACTCAATT CTCTATGATATTCGCCA TCATAAATCCTGATGAG TGCCAAACAAGCCAGG CTATCTATGCAGTGCATT AGAATTCAGCCGGTTTG TTGATTGCTTTGAACCGA ATTTCCCAGAAACTTTG TTTCTTCAGGAGAAGCAT CCAGCACCTATAAATGG GGTTCTAAAATGGCATTC GATATGGGCCATATTGA TTGGATGGTAATCCGCCT GAAACAATGAAATGCT GAAAGGCTATGCATGCC TACCTGGCCCGAGAAG TATTGTTGATCACATTCG GTGAAGTTTGCAATCGG GTCTAGGGGTGGAGAGG ACTTCTGCCAGCAATGG TCCGCCTGAATTCTCGTA TTGGTGGTCAACCTTAT TTAAAAAGATAGAGCTG GTTGAAGCTCAAGATG AATCCTGATGGAACTGT GCTTAACCGTTTCAGAA AAAACACTTCGCACTTA TGGATGAAAAAGCAGG GTGATGGAACTCAGATA GTGTTCCTGATCGGGTG ACTGGAGATGCTTATGTT AACGATGAGGTTTTTAT TGTGCAACACCAGTCGA TGCAATGTCCAAGGCAC TATCTTCAAGCTTCTTGT TCAATTTCATAAATCCT ACCTCAAGAGTGGAGTG GATGAGCTATCTATGCA AAATTACTTATTTCAAGA GTGCATTTTGATTGCTT AACTGGAGAAGTTGGTG TGAACCGATTTCTTCAG GGAGTTCCTGTTATCAAT GAGAAGCATGGTTCTA GTTCATATATGGTTTGAC AAATGGCATTCTTGGAT AGAAAACTGAACAACAC GGTAATCCGCCTGAAA ATATGACCACCTTCTTTT GGCTATCTCCCTATAGT CAGCAGGAGTTCACTTTT GAGTCGTATTA/44 AAGTGTCTATGCAGACA TGTCAGTAACCTGCAAG GAATACTATGACCCAAA CCGTTCAATGCTGGCCCT ATAGTGAGTCGTATTA/45

The experiment was performed in three biological repeats and the results are presented in FIGS. 14A-D.

Example 8 Chlorophyll Bleaching and Growth Inhibition Following PDS Silencing

Rice seeds were treated as described in Example 7 and their subsequent development and seedling growth were monitored. Thirty days post PDS-1 silencing treatment the overall phenotype of the two plant groups, control and PDS-silenced, was recorded. PDS silencing has been reported to cause chlorophyll bleaching and growth inhibition (Peretz et al., 2007, Plant Physiol 145: 1251-1263), which correlates with the phenotype of the PDS-silenced plants of the invention, as they appeared smaller in size and paler in color, respectively, compared to control plants (see FIG. 15).

Example 9 Detection of the Two PDS-1 Gene Products by Real-Time PCR

Following treatment with the dsRNA/siRNA mixture (ratio 1:1) as described in Example 7, expression levels of PDS-1 gene products are determined by real-time PCR using specifically designed primers (Forward: GATTGCTGGAGCAGGATTAG SEQ ID NO: 46, Reverse: CCCTTGCCTCAAGCAATATG, SEQ ID NO: 47). For normalization purposes, UBQ5 expression was also determined using primers (forward—ACCACTTCGACCGCCACTACT, SEQ ID NO: 48, reverse—ACGCCTAAGCCTGCTGGTT, SEQ ID NO: 49). The results are shown in FIGS. 16A-C.

Example 10 HAP2E Target Gene Silencing

Rice seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, Seeds were washed for 4 h at room temperature, dried overnight at 25° C. and immediately treated with a Hap2e dsRNA concentration of 152 μg/ml, for 41 hours at 15° C. (for Hap2e dsRNA sequences see Table 11, below). Control and Hap2e dsRNA-treated rice seeds that were germinated 5 days post treatment did not exhibit any differences in their root development (FIG. 17). RNA was extracted from shoots of germinated seeds, 5 and 7 days post germination, and RT-PCR was run. After testing 3 different sets of primers (see Table 6), located in various regions of the dsRNA molecules (FIG. 18), the best primer set (primer set 3) was used to evaluate the endogenous Hap2e expression levels in dsRNA-treated plants versus control (untreated) plants. Down-regulation of Hap2e mRNA expression in the treated plants, at a level of about 50% silencing or more compared to control plants, was achieved with an efficiency of 25% (FIG. 19).

Other rice seeds were treated under the same conditions as in FIG. 17 with a Hap2e dsRNA concentration of 145.7 μg/ml, for 42 hours. RT-PCR using random primers+Oligo dT on RNA extracted from seedlings 18 days post germination also exhibited down-regulation of Hap2e mRNA in dsRNA-treated plants (FIG. 20), with 50% efficiency of reaching down-regulation of over 25% compared to control.

TABLE 5 Primers used for RT-PCR of Hap2e dsRNA Molecules Primer Primer Name Primer Set and Primer Sequence/ Primer Set Location Direction SEQ ID NO: Length 1 In osaHAP2E501F3 ACCGGCATCAGCTCAGTCTC/50 20 dsRNA osaHAP2E589R3 TGCTGTTCTCTGGGCACAGG/51 20 2 Junction osaHAP2E11F5 TCCCCTCAGATATTAACAAC/52 20 osaHAP2E108R5 AGGAGGAAAGGCAGCTTCTGTG/53 22 3 Out of osaHAP2E122F7 GTGACTCGTCACCAACAAAG/54 20 dsRNA osaHAP2E202R7 TGTGTTGTCCGTTGAGACTG/55 20

Example 11 NFY Target Gene Silencing in Corn Seeds

Corn seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, Seeds were washed for 4 h at room temperature, dried overnight at 30° C. and immediately treated with a NFY dsRNA concentration of 56 μg/ml, for 40 hours at 15° C. (for NFY dsRNA sequence see table 11). RT-PCR on RNA extracted from shoots of control and NFY dsRNA-treated corn seeds 10 days after germination was performed to determine the expression level of NFY target gene (see Table 6). Down-regulation of the gene was successfully achieved as exhibited in FIG. 21.

TABLE 6 Primers used for RT-PCR of NFYA dsRNA   Molecules in Corn Seeds 3  10 Days after Germination. Primer Name Primer and Direction Primer Sequence Length zma-NFYA3_345 F3 TCGGAAGCCGTACCTTCGTG/57 20 zma-NFYA3_442R3 CCTGGAGCTGCTGCTTTGTG/58 20 zma-NFYA3_457F4 TACCAGGCGTCGAGTGGTTC/59 20 zma-NFY-A3_542R4 GAAGAGGGCGTGCAAATGGG/60 20

Example 12 NFY Target Gene Silencing in Tomato Seeds

Tomato seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1. Un washed seeds were treated with a NFY dsRNA concentration of 200 μg/ml, for 24 hours at 15° C., seeds were washed twice briefly and immediately planted in soil without drying. RT-PCR on RNA extracted from shoots of control and NFY dsRNA-treated tomato seeds 3 weeks after germination was performed to determine the expression level of NFY target gene (see Table 7). Down-regulation of the gene was successfully achieved as exhibited in FIG. 22.

Tomato plants 55 days post treatment with NFY dsRNA molecules were compared to same age control plants. Major phenotypic differences were evident upon comparison, most notably was a shift in height, where treated plants appeared significantly shorter than untreated control plants (FIGS. 23, 24).

TABLE 7 Primers used for RT-PCR of NFYA dsRNA Molecules in Tomato and NFY dsRNA product Primer Name and Primer Direction Primer Sequence/SEQ ID NO: Length slyNFYA125F3 CTATTGCGTGTGCTCCAAAC/61 20 slyNFYA212R3 ACATGAGGAGGAACCAAAGG/62 20 NFY dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAGGCTCAAGAACCAG Product 1 product 1 TTTATGTTAATGCTAAGCAGTATCGAAGGATCCTGCAGC GAAGACAGTCACGTGCTAAAGCAGAACTTGAAAAGAAG CAAATAAAGGGTAGAAAGCCATATCTTCACGAGTCTCG ACATCAGCATGCACTGAGGAGGGTAAGGGCCTCGGGTG GACGTTTTGCCAAAAAGACAGATGCTTCTAAGGGTACT GGTTCTGTGAGTTCATCGGGTTCTGAACCTTTGCAGTTC AATGCTGCTGATATTCAAAAGAGGAATGAAAATGGAAG GTTGGCCGAGCTTCAGCAGTCTTATTCAAATGGTAGCAG TTATGGCAATCAAAGTAGCTTTCAAGAATCCAAGGATG AGTACCAGTTTGCTAAAAGCAGGGAAGGAGGTTTTTTT GTCAAGTAATTGGAGATACGTTCATGTGTAAACTAGCTC TTGCCCTCTCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTAG/63 NFY dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAGCAGTTATGGCAAT Product 2 product 2 CAAAGTAGCTTTCAAGAATCCAAGGATGAGTACCAGTT TGCTAAAAGCAGGGAAGGAGGTTTTTTTGTCAAGTAATT GGAGATACGTTCATGTGTAAACTAGCTCTTGCCCTGCAA CGAGGGTAGAGTATGAGCAAGAGGAGTTTACAGGGATT GTTTCATTTCTTGGCTTTTCAAGATAGGCGGCAATTCAT TCTTGGCTTTTTACTTTAGTGTTAAAGGGAGCAACAGAG GTGACGAGGGTATCAGTGTTGCAGCATTTGCTTGGAGAT TACATCTTCCCTTATGTACAGAGATGGATGAACTTAGAA CTAGGATTAGAAAGTTTTTCAGTAAGTTTATGTTTGGCC AGTTACTGTAGTTTTAGTTTAGGAGACCATGTAAAAAGG TTGTTAGTTTTGCAAAAGGATCTTTTTTCTTTCCCTAATT GGTGCATTCTCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTAG/64

Example 13 NAC Target Gene Silencing in Corn Seeds

Corn seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, seeds were washed for 4 h at room temperature, dried over night at 30° C. and immediately treated with a NAC dsRNA concentration of 90 μg/ml, for 40 hours at 15° C. and immediately germinated (for NAC dsRNA sequence see Table 11). RT-PCR on RNA extracted from shoots of control and NAC dsRNA-treated corn seeds 10 days after germination was performed to determine the expression level of NAC target gene (see Table 8). Down-regulation of the gene was successfully achieved as exhibited in FIG. 25.

TABLE 8 Primers used for RT-PCR of NAC dsRNA Molecules in Corn. Primer Name and Primer Primer Direction Sequence Length zmaNAC5_267F3 CGAGTCGGGATACTGGAAGG/65 20 zmaNAC5_342R3 CTTCTTCATGCCGACGAGGG/66 20 zmaNAC5_187F4 ACGATGGGCGAGAAGGAGTG/67 20 zmaNAC5_250R4 TCAGTCCCGTCGGGTACTTG/68 20

Example 14 ARF-8 Target Gene Silencing in Rice Seeds

Rice seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, seeds were washed for 4 h, dried overnight at 20° C. and immediately treated with an ARF-8 dsRNA concentration of 66.2 μg/ml, for 42 hours at 15° C. RT-PCR on RNA extracted from control and ARF-8 dsRNA-treated rice seeds 18 days after germination was performed to determine the expression level of ARF-8 target gene (see Table 9). Down-regulation of the gene was successfully achieved as exhibited in FIG. 26.

TABLE 9 Primers used for RT-PCR of ARF-8 mRNA Molecules in Rice and ARF-8 dsRNA product Primer Name and Primer Direction Primer Sequence Length osaARF8_140F3 AGGGTCACATCCCGAACTAC/69 20 osaARF8_233R3 ACCTCGTCAGTCTCCACATC/70 20 osaARF8_1674F4 GTTGGATTCGAGCTTCCTTC/71 20 osaARF8_1757R4 TGCTGCTGCTCACTAGCTAC/72 20 ARF8 dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGACAGTCCGTTGGCCTAGT product TCCTATTGGAGATCTGTGAAGGTTGGTTGGGATGAATCAAC TGCAGGGGAAAGACCACCAAGAGTTTCTTTATGGGAAATT GAACCATTGACAACCTTTCCAATGTATCCATCTCTGTTCCC ACTGAGAGTTAAGCATCCTTGGTATTCAGGAGTTGCTTCCC TGCATGATGACAGCAATGCTTTAATGTGGCTGAGAGGAGT TGCTGGTGAGGGAGGTTTTCAGTCTCTGAACTTTCAGTCAC CTGGTATTGGCTCCTGGGGACAACAGAGGCTCCATCCATCC TTACTGAGCAGCGATCACGATCAGTACCAAGCAGTAGTTG CTGCTGCTGCTGCTTCCCAATCTGGTGGTTACTTAAAACAG CAATTCTTGCACCTTCAGCAACCTATGCAGTCCCCTCAAGA ACACTGCAACCTCAACCCTCTCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTA G/73

Example 15 SPL17 Target Gene Silencing in Rice Seeds

Rice seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, seeds were washed for 4 h, dried overnight at 20° C. and immediately treated with a SPL17 dsRNA concentration of 200 μg/ml, for 41 hours at 15° C. (for SPL17 dsRNA sequence see table 11). Control and SPL17 dsRNA-treated rice seeds that were germinated 5 days post treatment did not exhibit any visual differences (FIG. 27). RNA was extracted from 5 days old shoots of these germinated seeds and RT-PCR was run to determine SPL17 expression levels in control and treated plant groups. Two different sets of primers (see Table 10), located in various regions of the dsRNA molecules, were tested (FIG. 28). When RT-PCR was run on RNA extracted from 14-week old plants, down-regulation of SPL17 mRNA expression in the treated plants was achieved with high efficiency compared to control plants, (FIG. 29).

TABLE 10 Primers used for RT-PCR of SPL17 dsRNA Molecules in Rice Seeds 5 Days after Germination. Primer Set Primer Name and and Primer Location Direction Primer Sequence Length 1-in dsRNA osaSPL17_119F3 CTCAGCCATGGGATACTACC/74 20 osaSPL17_189R3 GCTGGCCGTTGACGACATTG/75 20 2-out of dsRNA osa spl17 454Fwd TTCAGCCACTCCACCAATG/76 19 osa spl17 512Rev AAGAAGATGATCAATGGTCTC/77 21

Example 16 Silencing of MicroRNA Target Genes with Complementary dsRNA/siRNA

The high specificity and efficiency of posttranscriptional gene silencing by target gene-specific dsRNA has become a preferred method to generate preferred phenotype eukaryotic organisms, wherein expression of one or more genes is reduced or inactivated. Specific dsRNA sequences designed to silence corn (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sative) microRNA target genes. Specifically, microRNAs shown to associate with improved abiotic stress tolerance will be used. Table 11 below provides several examples for target gene sequences that are produced using PCR amplification to test the gene silencing capabilities of their respective dsRNA/siRNA mixture. These dsRNA molecules will then be used to knock down the endogenous level of the selected target genes.

TABLE 11 Target Gene Sequences and Primers for PCR Forward Reverse Primer/ Primer/ Target Target Accession Target Sequence/ SEQ ID SEQ ID Product for Mir Gene Organism number SEQ ID NO: NO: NO: Length miR169 NFY- Zea  NM_0011 GATGAAGATCATGGGAAGG TAATACG TAATAC 537 bp A3 mays 53839 ATAATCAGGACACATTGAA ACTCACT GACTCA GCCAGTATTGTCCTTGGGGA ATAGGGC CTATAG AGGAAGGGTCTGCCTTTTTG CGCATGC GGTGCA GCCCCAAAAATAGATTACA CATTGTC TGCCGTT ACCCGTCTTTTCCTTATATTC CATCC/84 CACGAC CTTATACTGCTGACGCTTAC CAG/85 TATGGTGGCGTTGGGGTCTT TAATACG TAATAC 619 bp GACAGGATATGCTCCGCAT ACTCACT GACTCA GCCATTGTCCATCCCCAGCA ATAGGGC CTATAG AAATGATACAACAAATAGT AAATAGT GGGCTA CCGGTTATGTTGCCTGCGGA CCGGTTA CATGTCC ACCTGCAGAAGAAGAACCA TGTTG/86 ATTGCAT ATATATGTCAATGCAAAAC ATTC/87 AATACCATGCGATCCTTAGG AGGAGGCAGACACGTGCTA AACTGGAGGCGCAAAACAA GATGGTGAAAGGTCGGAAG CCGTACCTTCGTGAGTCTCG ACACCGTCATGCCATGAAG CGGGCCCGTGGCTCAGGAG GGCGGTTCCTCAACACAAA GCAGCAGCTCCAGGAGCAG AACCAGCAGTACCAGGCGT CGAGTGGTTCAATGTGCTCA AAGACCATTGGCGACAGCG TAATCTCCCAAAGTGGCCCC ATTTGCACGCCCTCTTCTGA CGCTGCAGGTGCTTCAGCAG CCAGCCAGGACCGCGGCTG CTTGCCCTCGGTTGGCTTCC GCCCCACAGCCAACTTCAGT GAGCAAGGTGGAGGCGGCT CGAAGCTGGTCGTGAACGG CATGCAGCAGCGTGTTTCCA CCATAAGGTGAAGAGAAGT GGGCACGACACCATTCCCA GGCGCGCACTGCCTGTGGC AACTCATCCTTGGCTTTTGA AACTATGAATATGCAATGG ACATGTAGCTTTGAGTTCCT CAGAATAA/78 HAP2E Oryza AB288031 TCAGTGTTTGTCCCCTCAGA TAATACG TAATAC 535 bp saliva .1 TATTAACAACAATGATAGTT ACTCACT GACTCA GTGGGGAGCGGGACCATGG ATAGGGC CTATAG CACTAAGTCGGTATTGTCTT TGCCTTT GGTGCT TGGGGAACACAGAAGCTGC CCTCCTT GTTCTCT CTTTCCTCCTTCAAAGTTCG CAAAGTT GGGCAC ATTACAACCAGCCTTTTGCA C/88 AGG/89 TGTGTTTCTTATCCATATGG TAATACG TAATAC 722 bp TACTGATCCATATTATGGTG ACTCACT GACTCA GAGTATCAACAGGATACAC ATAGGGC CTATAG TTCACATGCATTTGTTCATC ATTGGCT GGTTCGT CTCAAATTACTGGTGCTGCA GTTGATC TCAGTCA AACTCTAGGATGCCATTGGC CTTCTG/9 TAGCTTA TGTTGATCCTTCTGTAGAAG 0 C/91 AGCCCATATTTGTCAATGCA AAGCAATACAATGCGATCC TTAGAAGAAGGCAAACGCG TGCAAAATTGGAGGCCCAA AATAAGGCGGTGAAAGGTC GGAAGCCTTACCTCCATGAA TCTCGACATCATCATGCTAT GAAGCGAGCCCGTGGATCA GGTGGTCGGTTCCTTACCAA AAAGGAGCTGCTGGAACAG CAGCAGCAGCAGCAGCAGC AGAAGCCACCACCGGCATC AGCTCAGTCTCCAACAGGTA GAGCCAGAACGAGCGGCGG TGCCGTTGTCCTTGGCAAGA ACCTGTGCCCAGAGAACAG CACATCCTGCTCGCCATCGA CACCGACAGGCTCCGAGAT CTCCAGCATCTCATTTGGGG GCGGCATGCTGGCTCACCA AGAGCACATCAGCTTCGCAT CCGCTGATCGCCACCCCACA ATGAACCAGAACCACCGTG TCCCCGTCATGAGGTGAAA ACCTCGGGATCGCGGGACA CGGGCGGTTCTGGTTTACCC TCACTGGCGCACTCCGGTGT GCCCGTGGCAATTCATCCTT GGCTTATGAAGTATCTACCT GATAATAGTCTGCTGTCAGT TTATATGCAATGCAACCTCT GTCAGATAAACTCTTATAGT TTGTTTTATTGTAAGCTATG ACTGAACGAACTGT/79 miR156 SPL17 Oryza JN192988. CATGGTGGCTCAGCGGCTG TAATACG TAATAC 500 bp sativa 1 GGGCACCAATGCTCCACCA ACTCACT GACTCA CCCAGCCTTTGAGCTCACCT ATAGGGT CTATAG CAGGTGGATGTCTCGCGGG CACCTCA GGCATT AGTCGCCACCGACTCCAGCT GGTGGAT GGTGGA GTGCTCTCTCTCTTCTGTCA GTCTC/92 GTGGCT ACTCAGCCATGGGATACTAC GAAG/93 CCAAAGCACCAGCAGCCAC TAATACG TAATAC 497 bp AACCGGTCCCCGCCAATGTC ACTCACT GACTCA GTCAACGGCCAGCGCCTTCG ATAGGGC CTATAG GAGGCGGCAACAACCCGGT CAATGCT GGAGTT GTCGCCCTCGGTCATGGCAA CCACCAC CATGGC GCAACTACATGGCGGCGAG CCAGCCT ATTGGTG CCCCGGCTGGAACAGCTCC TT/94 GAGTGG/ AGCCGGGGCCATGACGGCG 95 CCAGGAACGTGCACCTGCC GCCACCGCACGGGGTTGTG CTGAACGAGGTCCCTCCGG GCTCTGTCCACCACGGCCAT TTCTCCGGCGAGCTCGAGCT CGCACTGCAGGGAGGTGCC CCGTCCAACCGGCCGGAAG CCAAGCATGGCTCCGGCAG CGGCGCCTTCAGCCACTCCA CCAATGCCATGAACTGGTCT CTGTAGAGACCATTGATCAT CTTCTT/80 SBP-A3 Zea  HQ858696 ATGGAAGGAAACGGTGGCG TAATACG TAATAC 529 bp mays .1 CGGGCGGCGGTAGCGGAAG ACTCACT GACTCA CGCGGCACCGCCCTGGGAT ATAGGGC CTATAG CTCGCCATGCACTGGGCACC GCCGTAG GGAAAG CGCCGTAGTGTCGTCCTACC TGTCGTC CCGTCAC CGCCGCAGCCCTTGGAGCTG CTACC/96 TCCGTGT CAGCAGCAGGAGCTTACCT GG/97 GCCTCAAGCTGGGGAAGCG TAATACG TAATAC 650 bp GCCCGCCTGCTGCTGGGCAG ACTCACT GACTCA GGGCGCCGGGCAACCAAGC ATAGGGC CTATAG GGCGCAGGTCCACGGCAAT GCAGGTC GGCGGT GGCGGCGCTGGTGGCGCAG CACGGCA CGGAGA CTGCTGAGGGTAAGAGGAA ATG/98 CGAAGT GGACAAGGCGCCTGCCGCG ACTGC/99 GCGGCCGTGACGAGGTGCC AGGTGGAGGGGTGCCACCT GTCGCTGGCGGACGCCAAG GAGTACCACCGGCGGCACA AGGTGTGCGAGGCGCACTC CAAGTCGCCCCGGGTCGTCG TCCTCGGCGCCGAGCAGCG CTTCTGCCAGCAGTGCAGCC GGTTCCACGCGATCTCGGAG TTCGACGACGCGAAGCGGA GCTGCCGACGGCGTCTGGCC GGGCACAACGAGCGGCGGC GGAAGAGCAACGCCAGCGA GGCCATGGCAAGAGGCGTC GCGCACCCACACGGAGTGA CGGCTTTCGGCCACGGCGGC TTCCTGCCCTCGCGCGGCCT CGTCCCCGCAGGGTCGTCCC CGGCGGCGGCTGGTGCTCTC TCTCTTCTGTCATCGGCCAG AGGCAGCGTGGCGGGCGCC AGCGGGCCCTGGCTGGTCA CGGCGGCGCGGGAGGACAT CCCGGCGCGCTCCAGCGCG GCGCTCGACGACCTTATCGC CGAGAACCGCGCCGCCGCG CTCCTCGCGCGGCAGTACTT CGTCTCCGACCGCTCGCCGG CGCCCAGACGGGATTTCGTC GCCTCT/81 miR164 NAC Oryza NM_0010 ATGAGCGGGATGAATTCGC TAATACG TAATAC 545 bp (TF sativa 64881.1 TGAGCATGGTGGAGGCGAG ACTCACT GACTCA homolog) GCTGCCGCCGGGGTTCAGGT ATAGGGT CTATAG TCCACCCGCGAGACGACGA TCAGGTT GGCCGTT GCTCGTGCTGGACTACCTGG CCACCCG GGCAGC AAAGGAAGCTCCTCGACGG CGAGAC/ TTGGCA CGGCGTGGGCGGCGCCGCG 100 ATGG/101 GCGGCGGCGGCGGCGGTCA TAATACG TAATAC 708 bp CCATCTACGGCTGCCCGGTG ACTCACT GACTCA ATGGTCGACGTCGATCTCAA ATAGGGC CTATAG CAAGTGCGAGCCATGGGAC GTGCTGG GGCAAC CTTCCTGAGATCGCTTGCGT ACTACCT CATGGC TGGTGGCAAGGAGTGGTAC GGAAAG/ CGATGTC TTCTATAGCCTTAGGGATAG 102 AAC/103 GAAGTATGCAACTGGCCAA CGAACAAATAGAGCAACCG AATCGGGCTACTGGAAGGC CACAGGAAAAGATCGCCCA ATAAGCCGGAAAGGATTGC TCGTCGGTATGCGAAAAAC CCTGGTGTTCTACAAAGGTA GAGCCCCTAAGGGGAAGAA GACCGAGTGGGTCATGCAT GAATTCCGCAAAGAAGGAC AAGGGGATCCGATGAAGTT GCCTCTCAAGGAGGACTGG GTCTTGTGTAGAGTCTTCTA CAAGAGTAGGACAACCATT GCCAAGCTGCCAACGGAGG GTAGCTACAACAATATTGAC AGTGTGGCCACAACTTCACT GCCTCCCCTCACTGACAACT ACATTGCATTTGATCAGCCT GGTTCAATGCAAAACCTAG AGGGTTATGAGCAAGTGCC CTGCTTCTCCAATAATCCCT CTCAACAGCCATCGTCGTCG ATGAATGTTCCGTTGACATC GGCCATGGTTGATCAAGAG CAAAACAATATGGGTAGGG CGATCAAGGATGTGCTGAG CCAATT/82 NAC5 Zea  NM_0011 ATGGAGCACGACGTGCACC TAATACG TAATAC 565 bp mays 54298.1 ACCAGCAGGCCATGGAGCT ACTCACT GACTCA GCCGCCGGGGTTCCGATTCC ATAGGGC CTATAG ACCCCACCGACGAGGAGCT CACCGAC GGCGAC CATCACGCACTACCTCGCCA GAGGAG GTCCTCC GGAAGGCCGCCGACGCCCG CTCATC/1 ACCAAC CTTCGCCCCGCGCGCCGTCG 04 ATC/105 GCGAGGCCGACCTCAACAA TAATACG TAATAC 664 bp GTGCGAGCCATGGGACCTG ACTCACT GACTCA CCATCCCGGGCGACGATGG ATAGGG CTATAG GCGAGAAGGAGTGGTACTT AGGCCG GGTCAG CTTCTGCGTCAAGGACCGCA ACCTCAA GAAGAA AGTACCCGACGGGACTGAG CAAGTG/ CTGGCCC GACGAACCGGGCCACCGAG 106 TCCAG/10 TCGGGATACTGGAAGGCGA 7 CGGGCAAGGACAGGGAGAT CTTCAGGAGCAAGGCCCTC GTCGGCATGAAGAAGACGC TCGTCTTCTACACGGGGAGG GCGCCCAGGGGAGGCAAGA CCGGCTGGGTCATGCACGA GTACCGCCTCCACGGCAAG CACGCCAGCAGCAGCCGCC TCATGCCGTCGTCGGTCAGA GCTGGCGCGTCAAAGGACG AGTGGGTGCTGTGCAGGGT GTTCAAGAAGAGCATCGAG CCGCCGCCGTCAGTGGGCA AGAGGTCGTCGGTCGCGTGT ACGGGGATGATGTTGGTGG AGGACGTCGTGGGACCGCC GTCCATGTCCATGGAGGAC GACCTCGCCGCGTGCGCGCT GCCTCCGCTGATGGACGTGT CCGGCGGTGGCGGCGCCAA CATGGCGGCGGCGTCCATC GAGCTGCTGGCGCCACCGG CACCACACGTGACCTGCTTC TCCAACGCGCTGGAGGGCC AGTTCTTCCTGAACCCACCC TGCCTCCACCCCTCCACGTC GCCGCTCC/83

Example 17 ARF-8 Gene Silencing in Tomato Seeds

Tomato seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, unwashed seeds were treated with an ARF-8 dsRNA concentration of 200 μg/ml, for 24 hours at 15° C. and immediately planted in soil. Expression levels of the gene were examined using RT-PCR, 3 and 8 weeks after treatment (see Table 12). Changes in expression were observed in dsRNA-treated plants 3 weeks after treatment (FIG. 30A-B).

Plants that were treated with dsRNA molecules specific for the ARF8 gene showed a phenotypic difference compared to control plants. This phenotypic difference was observed at different time points (55, 62 and 72 days) and was demonstrated by a decrease in height (FIGS. 31A-C). While the average height of control plants was ˜36 cm, the dsRNA treated plants were ˜30 cm tall on average (FIG. 31D). In addition to their decreased height (delayed vertical development), dsRNA-treated plants appeared more branched (increased horizontal development) compared to control plants. Thus, plants treated with dsRNA specific for ARF8 appeared shorter and more branched relative to their control counterparts 55 and 72 days after treatment, as can be visualized in FIGS. 32A and 32B.

TABLE 12 Primers used for RT-PCR of ARF-8 mRNA Molecules in Tomato and ARF-8 dsRNA product Primer Name and Primer Direction Primer Sequence Length slyARF_8_1816F4 CCTCAACAGTCCTGGATGTC/108 20 slyARF_8_1896R4 CCCGTAAGTTGGAAGTGATG/109 20 ARF 8 dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAGCTTCTCCTCCCTA Product 1 product 1 CAACTGTGTCTAACGTCGCTACTACATCAATTGATGCT GATATATCCTCTATGCCACTAGGGACTTCTGGATTTCC GAATCCCTTGTATAGTTATGTGCAAGATTCTACTGACT TGTTGCATAATGTAGGGCAAGCTGATGCACAAACTGT GCCCCGTACATTTGTCAAGGTTTACAAATCAGCGTCCC TTGGGAGGTCATTGGACATCACTCGGTTCAACAGCTAT CATGAGCTGCGACAGGAATTAGGGCAGATGTTCGGTA TCGAAGGGTTGCTTGAAGACCCTCAAAGATCAGGCTG GCAGCTTGTATTTGTTGACAGGGAGAATGATGTCCTTC TCCTTGGAGACGATCCGTGGGAGGAATTTGTCAATAA TGTTTGGTACATCAAAATTCTTTCACCCGAGGATGTGC AGAAACTGGGGAAAGAGGAGGTTGGATCCCTCTCCCT ATAGTGAGTCGTATTAG/110 ARF 8 dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGATGGGAGATTGAGC Product 2 product 2 CTTTGACTACTTTTCCGATGTATCCATCTCTTTTTCCTC TAAGGCTAAAGAGGCCTTTCTATCAAGGAACCTCATCT TATCAGGATAGTAACAATGAAGCTATTAATCGAATGT CATGGTTAAGAGGGAATGCTGGTGAGCTAGGACATCA TTCAATGAATCTTCAGTCTTTTGGCATGCTTCCTTGGAT GCAACAGAGAGTCGATTCAACAATTCTCCCAAATGAT ATTAATCAGCACTATCAAGCTATGCTGGCTACTGGC TTGCAAAGTTTTGGGAGTGGAGATTTACTGAAACAGC AATTAATGCAGTTTCAGCAGCCTGTCCAATATCTGCAA CATGCAAGTACTGAGAATTCAATTTTGCATCAGCAGC AGCAGCAGCAGCAGCAAATAATGCAGCAAGCAGTTCA TCAGCATATGCTGCCTGCTCAAACCCAAATGCTGTCAG AGAACCTTCAAAGGCAATCCCAGCATCAATCCATCTC CCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTAG/111

Example 18 FW2.2 Gene Silencing in Tomato Seeds

Tomato seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, unwashed seeds were treated with a FW2.2 dsRNA concentration of 100 μg/ml, for 24 hours at 15° C. and immediately planted in soil Expression levels of the gene were examined using RT-PCR, 9 weeks following germination (primers are listed in Table 13). An approximate 2-fold reduction in the expression level of FW2.2 in dsRNA treated plants compared to control plants was detected (FIG. 33).

Even so, plants that were treated with dsRNA molecules specific for the FW2.2 gene showed no phenotypic differences compared to control plants, ruling out a toxic effect as an alternative explanation for the phenotypic effects seen in the previous example. The plants presented similar height and appearance 72 days after treatment (FIG. 34).

TABLE 13 Primers used for RT-PCR of FW2.2 dsRNA Molecules in Tomato and FW2.2 dsRNA product Primer Name and Primer Direction Primer Sequence Length slyFW2_316F2 GAGGCACCTTGTGTTGATTG/112 20 slyFW2_406R2 CAAAGCCACGGTTCTTAAGC/113 20 FW2.2 dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGATCCAGGTCCAATGAAA product CAACCTTATGTTCCTCCTCACTATGTATCTGCCCCCGGCAC CACCACGGCGCGGTGGTCGACTGGTCTTTGTCATTGTTTTG ATGACCCTGCTAACTGTTTAGTTACTAGTGTTTGCCCTTGTA TCACCTTTGGACAGATTTCTGAAATACTAAACAAAGGAAC AACTTCATGTGGGAGTAGAGGTGCATTATATTGTTTGCTGG GATTGACAGGATTGCCTAGCCTATATTCCTGCTTCTACAGG TCTAAAATGAGGGGGCAATATGATCTGGAAGAGGCACCTT GTGTTGATTGTCTTGTACATGTATTCTGTGAACCTTGTGCTC TTTGCCAAGAATACAGAGAGCTTAAGAACCGTGGCTTTGA TATGGGAATAGGGTGGCAAGCTAATATGGATAGACAAAGC CGAGGAGTTACCATGCCCCCTTATCATGCAGGCATGACCTC TCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTAG/114

Example 19 Della Gene Down-Regulation in Rice Results in More Developed Roots of Germinated Seeds

Rice seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, seeds were washed for 4 h, dried for 24 h at room temperature and immediately treated with a DELLA dsRNA concentration of 66 μg/ml, for 36 hours at 15° C. Rice seeds were treated with dsRNA directed against the Della gene (see Table 15 below), which is a known plant growth repressor. Arabidopsis seedlings with mutant Della gene are larger with a longer root system (Josse, E. M., Gan, Y., Bou-Torrent, J., Stewart, K. L., Gilday, A. D., Jeffree, C. E., Vaistij, F. E., Martínez-García, J. F., Nagy, F., Graham, I. A., and Halliday, K. J. (2011). A DELLA in disguise: SPATULA restrains the growth of the developing Arabidopsis seedling. Plant Cell 23: 1337-1351.). FIG. 35 shows mimicking of the Arabidopsis phenotypes using dsRNA seed treatment, with treated seedlings being larger with longer roots than control seedlings.

Example 20 NRR Gene Down-Regulation in Rice Results in More Developed Roots and Shoots of Germinated Seeds

Rice seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, seeds were washed for 4 h, dried for 24 h at room temperature and immediately treated with a NRR dsRNA concentration of approximately 13 μg/ml, for 36 hours at 15° C. Rice seeds were treated with dsRNA directed against the NRR gene, which was found to regulate root growth in response to macronutrients in rice (Zhang et al., 2012, Mol Plant 5(1):63-72). Transgenic rice seedlings, with reduced NRR levels using RNAi were shown to have longer roots when grown under nitrogen limiting conditions. FIG. 36 shows mimicking of this phenotype using dsRNA seed treatment, with resulting treated seedlings being larger and with longer roots than control seedlings.

TABLE 14 Products of NRR dsRNA Molecules in rice Primer Name and Primer Direction Primer Sequence Length NRR dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAAGCTCCTGAACCCAT Product 1 product 1 CATTGAAGAACCAGTGCTTAGCCTTGATCCAGTTGCAGCA GCCATTTCGATGATGTCTGGCAGTGAGAACGTAATGGAT GAAACTATAGAGGTTGCAGATATCAGCGACATTCAGAAT GACTCTCTTTTAAGCGAAGTATTATACGAGTGCGAGAAG GAACTCATGGAGAAGTCCGCAATCGAAGAGACTATTTCT GAACTGCTGGACGTCAAGATTCCTATGCTGCAAGTGGAA GAGTTCCCTAGGGAAACCCAAGTACAACTACCGGCCATG GAGAAGGAGAAGCCATCAGTTCCTGAATGTTGTTCACTC CAGAAAAGTGTCAGTTCTGGGTGCCTCAACTCAGCTGATT GGATCAATGGACCAGCCAGGCCAAACTTCCTGGACTTCC AAGGATTGGACTTTGAGACAGCGTTTGGGTTGAGGAGGG CATACAGCGAAGGAGACATTCTCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTA TTAG/115 NRR dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGACATGGAGAAGTCCGC Product 2 product 2 AATCGAAGAGACTATTTCTGAACTGCTGGACGTCAAGAT TCCTATGCTGCAAGTGGAAGAGTTCCCTAGGGAAACCCA AGTACAACTACCGGCCATGGAGAAGGAGAAGCCATCAGT TCCTGAATGTTGTTCACTCCAGAAAAGTGTCAGTTCTGGG TGCCTCAACTCAGCTGATTGGATCAATGGACCAGCCAGG CCAAACTTCCTGGACTTCCAAGGATTGGACTTTGAGACAG CGTTTGGGTTGAGGAGGGCATACAGCGAAGGAGACATTC AGAATCTTGGAGCTAGCACCCCTCGACCCGGGAACTCAG GAAACGCTCAATTAGCATCTTGCGAGAGGCTTGTAACCA TCAGTGACCTGAAATCTGAAGAAAGGAAGCAGAAGCTAT CTAGGTACAGAAAGAAGAAGGTGAAGAGAAACTTTGGC AGAAAGATCAAGTATGCTTGCAGGAAGGCTCTCTCCCTA TAGTGAGTCGTATTAG/116

Example 21 Simultaneous Silencing of Three Endogenous Genes

In the present example, the effect of silencing three genes simultaneously is tested. Rice seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1, seeds were washed for 4 h, dried overnight at room temperature and immediately treated with a solution containing a mixture (152.3 μg/ml final concentration) of dsRNA against three genes: Hap2e (59.9 μg/ml, see Table 11), Della (44 μg/ml see table 15 below) and SQS (48.4 μg/ml see table 16 below) for 42 h at 15° C. RNA was extracted from shoots of germinated seeds, 18 days post germination, and RT-PCR for each of the three genes was run (see Table 15 below). As can be seen in FIG. 37, down-regulation of all three genes was highly effective, with treated plants exhibiting decrease in expression of each individual gene at various amounts, ranging from a minimum of 10% decrease to total silencing of the gene (equals 100% down-regulation).

TABLE 15 Primers Used for RT-PCR Analysis for Expression Level of Hap2e, Della and SQS Genes and dsRNA products. Primer Name and Primer Direction Primer Sequence Length osaHAP2E122F7 GTGACTCGTCACCAACAAAG/117 20 osaHAP2E202R7 TGTGTTGTCCGTTGAGACTG/118 20 osaDella1410F5 CAGTTCGCGCACACCATTCG/119 20 osaDella1494R5 GCAGCATGAACGGCTCCAAG/120 20 osaSQS465F3 TCCGCAATGCCGTGTGCATC/121 20 osaSQS543R3 GCGGCAGGAATGCTAGTGTC/122 20 Della dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAGCCCACTTCTACGA product GTCCTGCCCCTACCTCAAGTTCGCCCACTTCACCGCAAA TCAAGCCATCCTCGAGGCTTTCGCCGGCTGCCACCGCGT CCACGTCGTCGACTTCGGCATCAAGCAGGGGATGCAAT GGCCAGCTCTCCTCCAGGCCCTCGCCCTTCGTCCCGGCG GCCCCCCATCGTTCCGCCTCACCGGCGTCGGCCCCCCGC AGCCGGACGAGACCGACGCCTTGCAGCAGGTGGGTTGG AAGCTTGCCCAGTTCGCGCACACCATTCGCGTCGACTTC CAGTACCGGGGACTCGTCGCCGCCACTCTCGCGGACTT GGAGCCGTTCATGCTGCAGCCGGAGGGCGAGGCGGACG CGAACGAGGAGCCTGAGGTGATCGCCGTCAACTCGGTG TTCGAGCTGCACCGGCTGCTCGCGCAGCCCGGCGCGCT GGAGAAGGTCCTGGGCACGGTGCACGCGGTGCGGCCAA GGATCGTCACCGTGGTAGAGTCTCCCTATAGTGAGTCGT ATTAG/123 SQS dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAATATCTACAACCGC Product 1 product 1 GACTGGCATTATTCATGTGGAACAAAAGACTACAAATT ACTGATGGATAAGTTTCGCCTTGTCTCCACGGCTTTCTT GGAGCTTGGTCAAGGTTATCAAGAGGCAATTGAAGAAA TCACTAGGCTAATGGGAGCAGGAATGGCAAAATTTATC TGCAAGGAGGTTGAAACTGTTGATGACTACAATGAGTA CTGTCACTATGTAGCAGGGCTAGTGGGGTATGGGCTTTC CAGGCTCTTTCATGCTGGTGGGACGGAAGATCTGGCTTC AGATTCACTTTCAAATTCAATGGGCTTGTTTCTGCAGAA AATCAATATAATTAGGGATTATTTGGAGGACATAAACG AGATACCAAAGTCACGTATGTTCTGGCCTCGAGAAATA TGGAGTAAATATGTCAATAAACTCGAGGATTTGAAATA CGAGGAAAATTCAGAAAAGGCAGTTCAGTGTTTGAATG ATATGGTGACTAACGCTCTGTCTCATCTCCCTATAGTGA GTCGTATTAG/56 SQS dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGACGCTCTGTCTCATGC Product 2 product 2 TGAAGACTGCCTCCAATACATGTCAGCATTGAAGGATC ATGCCATTTTCCGTTTTTGTGCAATACCTCAGATAATGG CAATTGGGACATGTGCTATTTGCTACAATAATGTGAATG TCTTTAGAGGAGTTGTTAAGATGAGGCGTGGGCTCACT GCACGAGTAATTGATGAGACAAACACAATGTCAGATGT CTATACTGCTTTCTATGAGTTCTCTTCGCTGATAGAATC GAAGATTGATAATAATGATCCAAATGCTTCCCTAACGC GGAAACGTGTTGATGCGATAAAGAGAACCTGCAAGTCA TCTTGCTCACTAAAGAGAAGGGGATACGATTTGGAGAA GTCAAAGTACAACTCCATGCTGATAATGGTTGTACTTCT GTTGGTGGCTCTCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTAG/14

Example 22 Fluorescence Microscopy of siRNA Fragments in Tomato

Tomato seeds were treated with a fluorescent siRNA (siGLO, 1 μM final concentration, Thermo Scientific) at 15° C. for 24 h.

The seeds were cut into slices and fluorescent pictures were taken 24 hours post treatment using Leica confocal microscope. As shown in FIGS. 38A-D, a treated seed is shown (FIGS. 38A, C) alongside a control seed that was treated with buffer (FIGS. 38B, D). It is clear that the siRNA is distributed at various levels in the embryo and in the endosperm.

Examples 23-29 SPL Expression Affected by Dose and Kinetics of dsRNA Seed Treatment Example 23 Altered SPL Expression Following Treatment with 50 μg/ml dsRNA in Tomato

Tomato seeds were treated with a dsRNA (SEQ ID NO: 126) derived from the SPL gene and with GUS dsRNA as a control according to the protocol described in Example 1. Treatment was performed by gently shaking the seeds in the solution for up to 24 hours in a dark growth chamber at 15-25° C. followed by washing with water three times for one minute. After treatment, seeds were planted in soil and grown at about 25° C. with 16 hours photoperiod. The plants were watered with tap water as necessary. The primers used for in-vitro transcription of SPL dsRNA and the sequence of the dsRNA are listed in Table 16. The sequence of GUS dsRNA appears in Table 3.

TABLE 16 Primers used for in-vitro transcription of  SPL dsRNA and the resulting dsRNA product. Length Target Sequence/SEQ ID NO: (nt) SPL Forward  CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAT 45 primer GGCCCAATAGGTTCTCCTCA/124 Reverse  CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAG 44 primer CTGCCATTGATGCTGATGC/125 dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAT 509 GGCCCAATAGGTTCTCCTCATATGG ATGGAAACTAACAAATGGGAAGGGA AGAGAAGCATTACTGAAGCTGAAAA GGAAGAGGATGAACATGGAAGTGTT GAAGAGGATAGCAAAAGAAAAAGGG TATTGACTCTCTCTGGTAGGAAGCT AGTTGGTGAAGGGTCGGCACATCCT TCTTGCCAGGTCGATCAGTGCACTG CAGATATGGCAGATGCCAAGCCATA CCATCGCCGCCACAAGGTGTGTGAG TTCCATTCAAAGTCTCCAATAGTAC TTATTAGTGGACTCCAGAAGCGATT CTGTCAGCAATGTAGCAGATTTCAT CTGTTAGCAGAGTTTGATGATGCTA AGAGGAGTTGCCGAAGGCGTTTGGC AGGTCACAATGAGCGCCGCCGTAAA ATTACATATGACTCTCATGGAGAAA ATTTGGGCTGAAGAAGCATCAGCAT CAATGGCAGCTCTCCCTATAGTGAG TCGTATTAG/126

Prior to treatment, the dsRNA concentration and purity were assessed by absorbance (NanoDrop) and by HPLC. The concentration of the dsRNA according to the NanoDrop measurement was 1864 μg/ml for SPL and 1964 μg/ml for GUS. HPLC showed that the sample contains mostly dsRNA but other molecules (including nucleotides and ssRNA) were present in the solution as well. According to the HPLC analysis, the SPL solution contained 1219 μg/ml of dsRNA and 838 μg/ml of ssRNA. The GUS solution contained 633 μg/ml of dsRNA and 167 μg/ml of ssRNA (see FIGS. 39A-B).

Seeds were treated with dsRNA at a concentration of 50 μg/ml (determined by the HPLC measurement) for 10 minutes, 2, 6 and 24 hours. An additional HPLC analysis of the SPL and GUS dsRNA solutions following seed incubation revealed that the ssRNA peak has disappeared (see FIG. 39).

Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds, 17 days (in plants treated for 24 hours) and 18 days (in plants treated for 10 minutes, 2 and 6 hours) post treatment. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of SPL mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR with SYBR Green (Quanta BioSciences). Primers used for real-time PCR of SPL were located outside of the dsRNA region, at the 3′ UTR. Primers sequences are listed in Table 17 together with the house-keeping genes (Expressed and CAC) that were used as normalizers (in the case of SPL Expressed was used as the normalizer).

TABLE 17 Primers used to determine expression level of SPL mRNA by real-time PCR. Real- time PCR Sequence/ Length Target method SEQ ID NO: (nt) SPL SYBR Forward CAATTCCCGGAT 20 Green primer TTCTAAGC/127 Reverse CCCTTTACACAA 20 primer GGGAAATG/128 Taqman Forward TTCTGAAGCAAC 26 primer ATAAACAAGATG TG/129 Reverse AATTTGCTTAGA 23 primer AATCCGGGAAT/ 130 Taqman 6FAM-TTAAGCA 19 probe TGCTCTCTATCT- MGBNFQ/131 Expressed SYBR Forward GCTAAGAACGCT 22 Green primer GGACCTAATG/ 132 Reverse AGAATAGCATCC 20 primer GGTCTCAG/133 CAC Taqman Forward GGTGGCGCCTTT 18 primer GATGAA/134 Reverse TCCAATAGCTCG 25 primer TAAATCAGAACA A/135 Taqman VIC-ATGCCATC 16 probe CGCAATAA-MGB NFQ/136

This analysis showed a significant (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p-value<0.05) up-regulation of SPL mRNA at all incubation times. The median expression level of SPL in plants treated with SPL dsRNA for 10 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours and 24 hours was 2.54, 2.85, 2.69 and 2.73-fold higher than in control plants treated with GUS dsRNA, respectively (FIGS. 40A-B to 43A-B).

To verify that the effect on SPL mRNA results specifically from treatment with SPL dsRNA, the level of SPL mRNA was measured after treatment with both GUS dsRNA (a control sequence having no silencing relevant homology in the tomato genome) and FW2.2 dsRNA (which is a tomato endogenous sequence, see Table 13). Plants treated with 50 μg/ml dsRNA for 24 hours showed up-regulation of SPL when treated with SPL sequence, but not when treated with GUS or FW2.2 sequences (FIGS. 40A-B). FIGS. 41A-B to 43A-B shows the effect of varying treatment periods on SPL expression. All tested treatment times i.e., 24 h-10 minutes, showed an effect of SPL mRNA levels.

In another experiment, tomato seeds of the Oregon Spring variety were treated with an independently made dsRNA for the SPL gene at a concentration of 50 μg/ml for 24 hours. The seeds were then washed 3 times with water, and transferred to seed germination boxes (9 seeds per box) containing 12 ml water. Seeds in boxes were germinated in a growth chamber in the light at 25° C. for 7 days, and shoot tissue was then harvested for RNA analysis. RNA analysis was conducted by Taqman, using a tomato CAC assay for normalization of the values to correct for differences in sample concentration (Table 17). Table 18 shows that in seedlings germinated from seeds treated with SPL dsRNA, mRNA levels of the SPL gene was elevated about 7-fold compared to seedlings germinated from seeds treated with GUS dsRNA. Treatment with AFR8 dsRNA and 0.1 mM EDTA (buffer) had no significant effect on SPL mRNA levels compared to treatment with GUS dsRNA.

TABLE 18 mRNA concentrations for SPL gene in tomato seedling shoot tissue. % change Mean Std from fold Dunnett's Treatment Number RQ Dev GUS control change p value Buffer 12 0.298 0.551 330% 4.3 0.4723 GUS 15 0.069 0.059 0% 1.0 1 S1.ARF8-1 11 0.196 0.338 183% 2.8 0.846 S1.SPL 18 0.463 0.655 568% 6.7 0.0577

Example 24 Altered SPL Expression Following Tomato Seed Dipping in dsRNA

Tomato seeds were treated with a dsRNA derived from the SPL gene as described in Examples 1 and 23.

Treatment with dsRNA at a concentration of 50 μg/ml was done by dipping the seeds in the dsRNA solution at room temperature and immediately washing with double distilled water (DDW). Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds, 13 days post treatment. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of SPL mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR, as described in Example 23.

This analysis showed a significant (p-value<0.05) up-regulation of SPL mRNA (FIGS. 44A-B). The median expression level of SPL in plants treated with SPL dsRNA was 1.78 fold higher than in control plants dipped with 50 μg/ml GUS dsRNA.

Example 25 Altered SPL Expression Following Treatment with 25 μg/ml dsRNA in Tomato

Tomato seeds were treated with a dsRNA derived from the SPL gene as described in Examples 1 and 23.

Seeds were treated with dsRNA at a concentration of 25 μg/ml for 10 minutes, 2 and 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds, 17 days (in plants treated for 24 hours) and 18 days (in plants treated for 10 minutes and 2 hours) post treatment. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of SPL mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR, as described in Example 23.

This analysis showed a significant (p-value<0.05) up-regulation of SPL mRNA for incubation times of 2 and 24 hours, and an up-regulation trend for 10 minutes incubation time (FIGS. 45A-B to 47A-B). The median expression level of SPL in plants treated with SPL dsRNA for 2 and 24 hours was 2.23 and 2.48-fold higher than in control plants treated with GUS dsRNA, respectively.

Example 26 Altered SPL Expression Following Treatment with 1 or 5 μg/ml dsRNA in Tomato

Tomato seeds were treated with a dsRNA derived from the SPL gene as described in Examples 1 and 23.

Seeds were treated with dsRNA at a concentration of 1 or 5 μg/ml for 10 minutes, 2 and 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds, 17 days (in plants treated for 24 hours) and 18 days (in plants treated for 10 minutes and 2 hours) post treatment. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of SPL mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR, as described in Example 23.

An up-regulation trend in SPL mRNA expression was detected for all incubation times treated with 1 μg/ml dsRNA (FIGS. 48A-B to 50A-B).

Example 27 Altered SPL Expression Following Treatment with SPL siRNA in Tomato

dsRNA derived from the SPL gene (Table 16) was processed with ShortCut® RNase III (NEB) as described in Example 1.

Tomato seeds were treated with the resulting siRNA at a concentration of 50 μg/ml for 2 hours at 25° C. Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds 13 days post treatment. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of SPL mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR, as described in Example 23.

An up-regulation trend in SPL mRNA expression was detected. The median expression level of SPL in plants treated with SPL siRNA was 1.89 higher than in control plants treated with GUS siRNA (FIGS. 51A-B).

Example 28 Altered FW2.2 Expression Following Treatment with 50 μg/ml dsRNA in Tomato

Tomato seeds were treated with a dsRNA derived from the FW2.2 gene as described in Examples 1 and 23. As a control, seeds were treated with GUS dsRNA at the same concentration. The FW2.2 dsRNA sequence appears in Table 13.

Before treatment, the dsRNA concentration and purity were assessed by absorbance (NanoDrop) and by HPLC. The concentration of the dsRNA according to the NanoDrop measurement was 1791 μg/ml. HPLC showed that the sample contains mostly dsRNA but other species (nucleotides and ssRNA) were present in the solution as well. According to the HPLC analysis, the FW2.2 solution contained 1410 μg/ml of dsRNA and 473 μg/ml of ssRNA (see FIGS. 52A-B).

Seeds were treated with dsRNA at a concentration of 50 μg/ml (determined by the HPLC measurement) for 2, 6 and 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds, 17 days (in plants treated for 24 hours) and 18 days (in plants treated for 2 and 6 hours) post treatment. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of FW2.2 mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR. Primers used for real-time PCR of FW2.2 were TCTCTGGGCTTGTATCATCC (Forward primer, SEQ ID NO: 137) and GCTGCTCAAGGTGTTTGTG (Reverse primer, SEQ ID NO: 138). These primers are located outside of the dsRNA region, at the 3′UTR.

Down-regulation of FW2.2 mRNA following seed treatment was achieved at all incubation times (p-value<0.1). The median expression level of FW2.2 in plants treated with FW2.2 dsRNA for 2, 6 and 24 hours was 1.26, 1.09 and 1.41-fold lower than in control plants treated with GUS dsRNA, respectively (FIGS. 53A-B to 55A-B).

Example 29 Altered Della Expression Following Treatment with Della dsRNA in Rice

Rice seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1. Seeds were washed for 4 h, dried over night at room temperature and treated with DELLA dsRNA (see Table 15) at a concentration of 142 μg/ml, for 24 hours at 15° C. Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds 13 days post treatment. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of DELLA mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR (see Table 15).

This analysis showed a significant (p-value<0.05) down-regulation of DELLA mRNA. The median expression level of DELLA in plants treated with DELLA dsRNA was 3.73-fold lower than in control plants treated with GUS dsRNA (FIGS. 56A-B).

Example 30 Delayed Seedling Development and Altered PDS Expression Following PDS dsRNA Treatment in Wheat

Wheat seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1. Seeds were treated with a mixture of two PDS dsRNA fragments (see Table 19) for 4 hours at 15° C. and then germinated on a wet paper towel. The concentration of dsRNAs in the mixture was 136 μg/ml for fragment #1 (SEQ ID NO: 141) and 125 μg/ml for fragment #2 (SEQ ID NO: 144). Three days post treatment, seeds treated with the PDS dsRNA mixture exhibited stunted and delayed development, as seen by smaller seedlings and reduced rooting compared with control seeds treated with either 200 μg/ml GUS dsRNA or 0.1 mM EDTA (FIGS. 57A-B).

TABLE 19 Primers used for in-vitro transcription  of Wheat PDS dsRNAs and the resulting dsRNA products. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) PDS Forward  CTCGTAATACGACTCAC 47 primer #1 TATAGGGCGAACAAGAA TCTGCCGGACTAC/139 Reverse  CTCGTAATACGACTCAC 47 primer #1 TATAGGGCGACATCCTT CCATGCAGCTAAC/140 dsRNA #1 CTCGTAATACGACTCAC 517 TATAGGGCGAACAAGAA TCTGCCGGACTACTTGC TTCAGTATGGATACCAG CTGCCTATCATCTATGA ACATAGCTGGAGCGAAG CAAGTAAGATCTTTTGC TGGACAACTTCATACGC AGAGGTGTTTCACAAGT AGCAGCGTCCAGGCACT AAAAACTAGTCATCGTA CGACCTCCCTTGGCTTA AGGAATAAAGTAAAAGG ATCACGTCATGGACTTC GTGCTCTGCAGGTTGTT TGCCAAGATTTTCCAAG GCCTCCACTAGAGAACA CGATTAACTATTTGGAA GCTGGCCAGCTTTCTTC GTCGTTTAGAAGCAGTG AACGCCCCAGTAAACCA TTACAGGTCGTGATTGC TGGTGCAGGACTGGCTG GTCTATCAACTGCAAAA TACCTGGCAGACGCTGG CCACAAACCCATAGTGC TTGAGGCAAGAGATGTG TTGGGCGGAAAGTTAGC TGCATGGAAGGATGTCG CCCTATAGTGAGTCGTA TTACGAG/141 Forward  CTCGTAATACGACTCAC 47 primer #2 TATAGGGCGACGGAACA GTGAAGCACTTTG/142 Reverse  CTCGTAATACGACTCAC 47 primer #2 TATAGGGCGATTCGGGA CGGTCTTGTAAAC/143 dsRNA #2 CTCGTAATACGACTCAC 537 TATAGGGCGACGGAACA GTGAAGCACTTTGCACT TACTGATGGGACTCAAA TAACTGGAGATGCATAT GTTTTTGCAGCACCAGT TGATATCTTCAAGCTTC TTGTACCACAAGAGTGG AGAGAGATCTCTTATTT CAAAAGGCTGGATAAGT TGGTGGGAGTTCCTGTC ATCAATGTTCATATATG GTTTGACAGAAAACTGA AGAACACGTATGACCAC CTTCTTTTCAGCAGGAG TTCACTTTTAAGCGTTT ATGCAGACATGTCTTTA GCGTGCAAGGAGTACTA TGATCCAAACCGTTCGA TGCTGGAGTTGGTTTTT GCTCCAGCAGAGGAATG GATCGGACGGAGTGACA CCGAAATCATCGAAGCA ACTATGCTAGAGCTAGC CAAGTTGTTTCCTGATG AAATCGCTGCTGACCAG AGTAAAGCAAAGATTCT TAAATACCATGTTGTGA AGACACCGAGGTCCGTT TACAAGACCGTCCCGAA TCGCCCTATAGTGAGTC GTATTACGAG/144

Example 31 Altered TB1 Expression Following Treatment with TB1 dsRNA in Corn

Corn seeds were treated using the protocol described in Example 1. Seeds were washed for 4 h, dried over night at 30° C. and treated with TB1 dsRNA (see Table 20) at a concentration of 25 μg/ml, for 24 hours at 15° C. As a control, seeds were treated with CGMMV dsRNA (Table 1, product 1, SEQ ID NO: 8) at the same concentration. Total RNA was extracted from leaves of germinated seeds 7.5 weeks post germination. cDNA was prepared using oligo-dT primers and the expression level of TB1 mRNA was determined in treated and control plants by real-time PCR, using GPM120 as a normalizer (see Table 20).

This analysis showed down-regulation of TB 1 mRNA following dsRNA treatment. The median expression level of TB 1 in plants treated with TB 1 dsRNA was 9.88-fold lower than in control plants treated with CGMMV dsRNA (FIGS. 58A-B).

TABLE 20 dsRNA of Corn TB1 and Primers used for real-time PCR of TB1 and GPM120 mRNAs. Length Target Sequence/SEQ ID NO: (nt) TB1 dsRNA CTAATACGACTCACTATAGG 481 GAGGTGATCAACTCGCCGGA CCTGCCGGTGCAGGCGCTGA TGGACCACGCGCCGGCGCCG GCTACAGAGCTGGGCGCCTG CGCCAGTGGTGCAGAAGGAT CCGGCGCCAGCCTCGACAGG GCGGCTGCCGCGGCGAGGAA AGACCGGCACAGCAAGATAT GCACCGCCGGCGGGATGAGG GACCGCCGGATGCGGCTCTC CCTTGACGTCGCGCGCAAAT TCTTCGCGCTGCAGGACATG CTTGGCTTCGACAAGGCAAG CAAGACGGTACAGTGGCTCC TCAACACGTCCAAGTCCGCC ATCCAGGAGATCATGGCCGA CGACGCGTCTTCGGAGTGCG TGGAGGACGGCTCCAGCAGC CTCTCCGTCGACGGCAAGCA CAACCCGGCAGAGCAGCTGG GAGGAGGAGGAGATCAGAAG CCCAAGGGTAATTGCCGTCT CCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTA G/145 Forward AATCGGTGTCGTCGATTTGG/ 20 primer 146 Reverse GGCGGATACTGTTTGATCTC/ 20 primer 147 GPM120 Forward GCTGCGTGTTGTGCGTTCTG/ 20 primer 148 Reverse TCGTCGCGTGCTGTCTGTTC/ 20 primer 149

Example 32 Altered NAC Expression Following Treatment with NAC dsRNA in Corn

The two indicated NAC dsRNA sequences (Table 11) were synthesized in vitro using a convergent T7 RNA polymerase method, and diluted in 0.1 mM EDTA to a concentration of 50 μg/ml total nucleic acid. Fifteen inbred (LH244) maize seeds were incubated in 7.5 ml of this dsRNA solution in a 15 ml tube in the dark at 15° C., with gentle oscillation, for 24 hours. One set of seeds was washed 3 times with water after treatment with dsRNAs, and then dried overnight at 30° C. A second set of seeds was planted directly after imbibition in the dsRNA solution.

Following treatment, seeds were either transferred to seed germination boxes (15 seed per box) containing moistened filter paper and germinated in a growth chamber set at 25° C. in the dark, or were planted in soil and germinated in a greenhouse.

Shoot tissues, including mesocotyl and coleoptile base, were harvested from the germinating seeds in the germination boxes 5 days after treatment for RNA analysis. Seeds that had been dried had only 4 days to germinate, while seeds that were germinated without the drying step had 5 days for germination. However, drying resulted in improved synchronicity in germination so that the 2 sets of plants spanned similar developmental stages. RNA analysis was conducted by Taqman, using the Zm.GPM120 gene for normalization of the values to correct for differences in sample concentration (Table 21). RQ values were transformed to log10 for analysis. Outlier data points are defined as being 3 standard deviations from the mean, and were removed from the dataset before analysis.

Treatment of seeds with NAC dsRNAs resulted in increased NAC expression so that NAC mRNA levels were 1.7 to 2.2 times those of GUS control values (Table 22 and FIGS. 59A and 59B).

In another experiment, seeds were treated as described above and directly planted in soil. 12 days after planting, there was a decreased NAC mRNA expression in the V1 leaf in seeds that were not washed and dried before planting (FIG. 59C and Table 23). These plants also showed a decrease in plant height 16 days after planting (Table 24).

TABLE 21 Primers used to determine expression  level of NAC mRNA by real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) NAC Forward CTGGATTGGAAAC 22 primer TGGGATTGT/150 Reverse TTGCCCCATTTTG 21 primer CATATAGC/151 Taqman 6FAM-ATTGTGCC 17 probe GTTGAATAT-MGB NFQ/152 GPM120 Forward AGGCTTTCGCTGC 18 primer GTGTT/153 Reverse TGGCCCATCCAAA 19 primer CTCAGA/154 Taqman VIC-TGCGTTCTG 16 probe CTTGAAT-MGBNF Q/155

TABLE 22 mRNA concentrations for NAC gene in corn 5 days-old seedling shoot tissue. Dunnett's comparison to control on log10 fold transformed RQ values Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mean Lower 95% Upper 95% change (signficant if pVal <0.05) NAC 22 0.904 1.225 0.261 0.361 1.447 1.7 0.0882 GUS 22 0.543 0.623 0.133 0.267 0.819 1.0000 NAC_Dry 21 0.401 0.267 0.058 0.279 0.522 2.2 0.0004 GUS_Dry 21 0.185 0.092 0.020 0.142 0.227 1.0000

GUS_dry and NAC_dry, seeds were washed and dried after treatment with dsRNAs. The other set was put directly into seed germination boxes after treatment with dsRNAs. Comparisons with a control using Dunnett's Method, Control Group=GUS_dry or GUS, as appropriate.

TABLE 23 mRNA concentrations for NAC gene in corn 12 days-old leaf tissue. % change Std from Mean Std Err Lower Upper GUS fold Dunnett's Treatment Number RQ Dev Mean 95% 95% control change p value GUS 22 2.56 1.17 0.25 2.04 3.08 1 NAC 21 1.94 0.72 0.16 1.62 2.27 −24.2% 0.76 0.0441

TABLE 24 Height of 16 days old corm plants. Upper Lower Mean Height Std Err 95% 95% Dunnett's Treatment N (cm) Std Dev Mean Mean Mean % change p-value GUS 43 48.91 3.37 0.51 49.94 47.87 1.0000 NAC 43 45.47 2.86 0.44 46.34 44.59 −7.04% 0.0001

Example 33 Altered Expression of HY5 mRNAs in Lettuce Plants after Treatment of Seeds with HY5 dsRNA

The LONG HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) gene encodes a key positive regulator of plant response to light (Oyama, Shimura et al. 1997). Lettuce contains 2 genes related to Arabidopsis HY5 on chromosomes 5 and 6 which have 79% DNA sequence identity to each other. A ˜500 bp region was selected from the cDNA sequence of each gene as a trigger (Table 25), and dsRNA was made in vitro using the convergent T7 RNA polymerase method. The dsRNAs were solubilized in 0.1 mM EDTA at a concentration of 50 μg/ml. Thirty lettuce seeds of the variety Sun Valley were incubated in 1.5 ml of this dsRNA solution in a 2 ml eppendorf tube in the dark at 15° C., with gentle shaking, for 24 hours. The seeds were then washed 3 times with water, and then either transferred to seed germination boxes (9 seeds per box) containing 12 ml water, or to soil. Seeds in boxes were germinated in the light at 25° C. for 7 days, and shoot tissue was then harvested for RNA analysis. RNA analysis was conducted by Taqman, using a lettuce ubiquitin assay for normalization of the values to correct for differences in sample concentration (Table 25).

TABLE 25 dsRNA of HY5.5 and HY5.6 and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) HY5.5 dsRNA AGAGTTTCGGCTCAACAAGCAAGG 440 GAGAGGAAGAAGGCATACTTGAAT GAATTGGAAGTGCGAGTAAAAGAA ATTGAAAAGAAGAACTCCGAGCTT GAAGAGCGACTTTCAACTCTCCAA AATGAGAATCAAATGCTTAGACAT ATCTTGAAAAACACTACAGCCGGT ATGCAAGAAAAGAAGTAGACATAT GATTAGAAGAGGAAAAGCATTACA TGTGCAATCCGAATCATAGCTTGA AAATCGAAGGGTTTGGTTTAGGAT CGAGACTTGTTATTGTGGTTATTT CTTTTCCTAGCAAACATAATGAGA ATCCAACCATCTTTACGTACGATT CGATTAAAGATCTTTAAGTCATGT AGGTGGTAATGGGCTGTGTTTCTA AATGACCAAAAAAGATGTAAAGTA TTGCATATGATATGGGTTTTAATT TGTAGCAC/156 F primer CATGTGCAATCCGAATCATAGC/ 22 157 R primer ACCACAATAACAAGTCTCGATCCT 26 AA/158 Taqman 6FAM-TGAAAATCGAAGGGTTTG- 18 probe MGBNFQ/159 HY5.6 dsRNA ATGCAGGAGCAAGCAGCAACGAGT 401 TCCATGGCGGCTAGTCTACCTTCA AGTAGCGAGAGATCTTCAAGCTCT GCTCTACAAATTGAAATTAAAGAA GGAATGGAAAGTGATGACGAGATC AGAAGAGTGCCGGATATGGGCGGA GAAGCCGCCGGAGCATCAAGATCC GGCAGAGAAACCGGTTCAAATCAA AATAATCCAGACCGGGTTCAACAC TCAGCTGAAGGAACAAAGAAAAGA GGGAAAACTCCTGCTGATAGAGAA AGCAAGCGATTAAAGAGATTGTTG AGGAATAGAGTATCGGCTCAACAA GCAAGAGAGAGAAAGAAGGCGTAC ATGACCGAGTTGGAGAGCCGAGTT AAAGAGTTGGAGAAGAAGAACTCG GAGCTTGAAGAACGTTT/160 F primer CCACAATGCAAAATGAAAACCA/ 22 161 R primer GCATCCCAGACGTTGTGTTCT/ 21 162 Taqman 6FAM-TGCTTAGACACATCTTG-M 17 probe GBNFQ/163 Ubiquitin F primer TTGTCTTGAATTTTAGCTTTGACG 26 TT/164 R primer CCTTGACCGGAAAAACAATCA/ 21 165 Taqman VIC-TCAATGGTGTCGGAGCTTTC 27 probe CACTTCC-TAMRA/166

Table 26 and FIG. 60A shows that mRNA levels of the HY5.5 gene was elevated 2-3 fold when seeds were treated with dsRNAs from the HY5.5 or HY5.6 genes compared to seedlings from seeds treated with GUS dsRNA. mRNA levels of the HY5.6 gene were elevated about 2-fold after treatment with HY5 dsRNAs compared to treatment with GUS dsRNA (Table 27 and FIG. 60B).

TABLE 26 Concentration of HY5.5 mRNA in shoots of 1 week old seedlings treated with different dsRNAs. HY5.5, Means for Oneway Anova, α = 0.05 % change from GUS Dunnett's Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mean Lower 95% Upper 95% control p value buffer control 28 0.013 0.005 0.001 0.011 0.015 −8% 0.9960 GUS-1 dsRNA 29 0.014 0.005 0.001 0.012 0.016 0% 1.0000 Sl.Hy5-5 + Sl.Hy5-6 dsRNA 25 0.033 0.013 0.003 0.028 0.038 135% <.0001 Sl.Hy5-5 dsRNA 27 0.035 0.019 0.004 0.028 0.042 148% <.0001 Sl.Hy5-6 dsRNA 30 0.046 0.026 0.005 0.037 0.056 227% <.0001

Comparisons with a control using Dunnett's Method, Control Group=GUS-1.

TABLE 27 Concentration of HY5.6 mRNA in shoots of 1 week old seedlings treated with different dsRNAs. HY5.6, Means for Oneway Anova, α = 0.05 % change from GUS Dunnett's Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mean Lower 95% Upper 95% control p value buffer control 28 0.002 0.001 0.000 0.002 0.003 −22% 0.2116 GUS-1 dsRNA 29 0.003 0.001 0.000 0.003 0.003 0% 1.0000 Sl.Hy5-5 + Sl.Hy5-6 dsRNA 25 0.005 0.002 0.000 0.004 0.005 53% 0.0002 Sl.Hy5-5 dsRNA 27 0.005 0.002 0.000 0.004 0.005 48% 0.0006 Sl.Hy5-6 dsRNA 29 0.008 0.002 0.000 0.007 0.008 142% 0.0000

Comparisons with a control using Dunnett's Method, Control Group=GUS-1.

In another experiment, plants were treated as described above and were grown for 2 weeks in the greenhouse. Then, a leaf punch was harvested and analyzed for mRNA concentration. In these older plants, a decrease in HY5 expression was observed. Table 28 and FIG. 60C shows the mRNA levels of the HY5.5 gene in plants when seeds were treated with dsRNAs from the HY5.5 or HY5.6 genes compared to plants grown from seeds treated with GUS dsRNA and with lettuce DHFR dsRNA (Table 30) as controls. Table 29 and FIG. 60D shows the mRNA levels of the HY5.6 gene in plants when seeds were treated with dsRNAs from the HY5.5 or HY5.6 genes compared to plants grown from seeds treated with GUS dsRNA and with lettuce DHFR dsRNA (Table 30) as controls.

TABLE 28 Concentration of HY5.5 mRNA in leaves of 2 week old plants treated with different dsRNAs. % change Std from Mean Std Err Lower Upper GUS fold Dunnett's Treatment Number RQ Dev Mean 95% 95% control change p value Buffer 29 0.179 0.086 0.016 0.146 0.212 45% 1.4 0.0028 GUS-1 26 0.124 0.076 0.015 0.093 0.154 0% 1.0 1 Ls.DHFR 29 0.103 0.048 0.009 0.084 0.121 −17% 0.8 0.533 Ls.Hy5-5 28 0.058 0.038 0.007 0.043 0.073 −53% 0.5 0.0003 Ls.Hy5-5 + 29 0.065 0.030 0.006 0.054 0.076 −47% 0.5 0.0013 Ls.Hy5-6 Ls.Hy5-6 27 0.061 0.054 0.010 0.040 0.082 −51% 0.5 0.0007

TABLE 29 Concentration of HY5.6 mRNA in leaves of 2 week old plants treated with different dsRNAs. % change Std from Mean Std Err Lower Upper GUS fold Dunnett's Treatment Number RQ Dev Mean 95% 95% control change p value Buffer 29 0.005 0.003 0.001 0.004 0.006 41% 1.4 0.0166 GUS-1 26 0.003 0.002 0.000 0.003 0.004 0% 1.0 1.000 Ls.DHFR 28 0.003 0.001 0.000 0.003 0.004 −4% 1.0 0.9984 Ls.Hy5-5 29 0.003 0.002 0.000 0.002 0.003 −20% 0.8 0.4458 Ls.Hy5-5 + 29 0.002 0.001 0.000 0.002 0.002 −43% 0.6 0.009 Ls.Hy5-6 Ls.Hy5-6 26 0.002 0.001 0.000 0.002 0.002 −41% 0.6 0.0188

Example 34 Altered Expression of Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase (DHFR) mRNA in Lettuce Plants after Treatment of Seeds with DHFR dsRNA

Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase (DHFR) is an enzyme in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. One DHFR gene was identified in lettuce, and a 524 bp region was selected from the cDNA sequence as a trigger (Table 30). dsRNA was made in vitro using the convergent T7 RNA polymerase method for DFR and for the GUS control sequence.

TABLE 30 dsRNA of DHFR and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) DHFR dsRNA AGAGGATTCTCCGACCACC 524 GTGTGTGTCACTGGAGCTG CCGGATTCATTGGTTCATG GCTCGTTATGAGACTTCTT GAACGTGGGTATAATGTTC ATGCCACTGTTCGTGACCC TGATGACATAAAGAAAGTG AAACATTTATTGGAACTAC CAAAAGCAGCAACAAACTT GACGTTATGGAAGGCAGAT TTGACACAAGAAGGAAGCT TTGATGAAGCCATTGAAGG TTGTCATGGAGTCTTTCAT GTGGCTACGCCTATGGACT TTCAGTCCAAGGATCCTGA GAATGAGATCATAAAGCCA ACAATAGAAGGTGTATTAA GCATCGTAAGATCATGTGT GAAAGTCAAAACAGTCAAG AAATTGGTGTTTACATCCT CTGCGGGGACAGTGAACGT GCACGGAAATGATCAACTT CCGGTCTATGACGAGTCTC ATTGGAGCGATTTGGACTT CATCTACTCCAAGAAAATG ACTGCATGGATGTATTTCG TATCAAAAACATTGGCAGA AAAAGCAGCAT/167 F primer GGAGATGTTCAAAGGAGCA 23 ATTG/168 R primer TTGATTGTGGAATATGGAA 24 GCATT/169 Taqman 6FAM-TAGTTGCAGAGAGA 17 probe AAG-MGBNFQ/170

The dsRNAs were solubilized in 0.1 mM EDTA at a concentration of 50 μg/ml. Lettuce variety 8N LLF 65-2713141 Batavia is a highly pigmented red variant used for these studies. Thirty lettuce seeds were incubated in 1.5 ml of the dsRNA solution in a 2 ml eppendorf tube in the dark at 15° C., with gentle shaking, for 24 hours. The seeds were then washed 3 times with water, and then either transferred to seed germination boxes (10 seeds per box) containing 12 ml water, or to soil. Seeds in boxes were germinated in the light at 20° C. for 7 days, and shoot tissue was then harvested for RNA analysis. RNA analysis was conducted by Taqman, using a lettuce ubiquitin assay for normalization of the values to correct for differences in sample concentration (Tables 25 and 30).

mRNA levels for DHFR were significantly reduced when seeds were treated with dsRNA for DHFR compared to seeds treated with GUS dsRNA or the buffer control (Table 31 and FIG. 61).

TABLE 31 Concentration of DHFR mRNA in shoots of 1 week old seedlings treated with dsRNA. Dunnett's fold comparison Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mean Lower 95% Upper 95% change to control buffer control 25 7.800 3.555 0.711 6.333 9.268 1.1 0.7386 GUS-2 dsRNA 28 7.256 2.792 0.528 6.173 8.338 1.0 1 Ls.DHFR dsRNA 23 4.966 2.548 0.531 3.864 6.068 0.7 0.0159

Comparisons with a control using Dunnett's Method, Control Group=GUS-2.

Example 35 Altered Expression of DND1 mRNA and Reduced RKN Root Galling in Cucumber Following Seed Treatment with DND1 dsRNAs

DND1, defense no death, is a negative regulator of plant defenses. Mutations in DND1 lead to constitutive systemic resistance and elevated levels of salicylic acid (Clough et al. 2000). Seeds of Straight 8 cucumber variety were placed in a monolayer in a plastic box and covered with 5-12 volumes of water at room temperature (˜20 C). Seeds were washed for 4 hours in water with gentle agitation. Following the washing, seed were air dried on filter paper at ˜30 C for 12-24 hr. Cucumber DND1 dsRNAs (Table 32) were resuspended in 0.1 mM EDTA (diluted from a 0.5M pH8.0 stock solution) to 100 μg/ml. A 1:5 (w/v) ratio of dsRNA solution to seed (e.g. for 1 gr of seed a 5 mL solution of dsRNA in EDTA) was used. Seeds were placed in a 50 mL conical tube and incubated in the dark at 15 C with gentle agitation for 24 hr. Following incubation, seeds were washed three times with gentle agitation for 1 minute each in a volume of water to completely fill the plastic container, and dried on filter paper before planting.

TABLE 32 dsRNAs of GFP and cucumber DND1 and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) DND1 dsRNA #1 GTCTTGGAATGCTACGCCTGTA 498 (T33787) CCCAAGTGGGCGTTCCAGCCTT CCACTCCACCAGCTGCGACCAC GCCCACCAACAACCCGAATGGG AAGCCTCCGCGGGCTCTTCCCT GGTTCCAATCCAACCCACAAAA TCCTCACCAGCGCCCCGACATT CTTCGGCGGGTTGCTTCGGGAC GGTTCTGGACCCAAGAAAGAAA CCGGTTCAGAGATGGAACCGGG TTCTGTTATTGGCCCGGGGAAT GTCTCTTGCGGTTGATCCGCTT TACTTCTATGCTCTGTCTATTG GAAGAGGAGGATGGCCTTGCCT GTACATGGATGGTGGGTTGGCT GCCGGAGTTACGGTGGTTCGAA CGTGTCTTGATATAGTGCACTT GTGGCACGTGTGGCTTCAGTTC AGGCTTGCTTACGTGTCGAAAG AGAGTATGGTGATTGGGTGTGG GAAACTGGTGTGGGATGCACGT GATATTGCTTCTCACTATGTTC GTTCTTTCAAAGGC/171 dsRNA #2 GTACGGTGCTTAGTGGATTGTT 506 (T33788) GCTTTTCACTCTTTTGATTGGT AATATTCAGGTACTTTTGCACG CTGTCATGGCAAGGAGGCGAAA AATGCAGCTGAGATGTCGAGAT TTGGAGTGGTGGATGAGGAGAC GACAATTGCCATCTCGTTTGAA ACATCGAGTTCGACACTATGAG CACCAGAGATGGGCAGCTATGG GAGGAGAAGATGAGATGGAACT AATCAATGATTTGCCAGAAGGT CTTAGAAGAGATATCAAACGTC ATCTTTGTGTTGACCTAATCAG AAAGGTGCCTCTCTTTCAAAAC CTGGAGGAGCTGATTCTAGACA ACATATGTGACAAAGTCAAGCC ACTTGTATTCTCCAAAGATGAA AAGATAATCAGAGAAGGAGATC CTGTTCCAAGGATGTTATTCAT AGTGTGTGGACGAGTAAAACGT AGCCAAAGCCTGAGCAAGGGCA TGACAGCGACAAGTTTTATTGA ACCGGGAGGATTTCTTGGTGAC/ 172 F primer CAGCGAGTTGCTTCTTGTATCC 23 A/173 R primer TCCTCAGAGCAAGACAAAGATA 27 AGTTG/174 Taqman 6FAM-ACATTGTGAGAGAAACA 20 probe AGT-MGBNFQ/175 GFP dsRNA GGTGATGCAACATACGGAAAAC 499 TTACCCTTAAATTTATTTGCAC TACTGGAAAACTACCTGTTCCA TGGCCAACACTTGTCACTACTT TCTCTTATGGTGTTCAATGCTT TTCAAGATACCCAGATCATATG AAGCGGCACGACTTCTTCAAGA GCGCCATGCCTGAGGGATACGT GCAGGAGAGGACCATCTTCTTC AAGGACGACGGGAACTACAAG ACACGTGCTGAAGTCAAGTTTG AGGGAGACACCCTCGTCAACAG GATCGAGCTTAAGGGAATCGAT TTCAAGGAGGACGGAAACATCC TCGGCCACAAGTTGGAATACAA CTACAACTCCCACAACGTATAC ATCATGGCCGACAAGCAAAAGA ACGGCATCAAAGCCAACTTCAA GACCCGCCACAACATCGAAGAC GGCGGCGTGCAACTCGCTGATC ATTATCAACAAAATACTCCAAT TGGCGATGGCCCTGTCCTTTTA CCAGACAACCATTACC/176 F primer ATGGCTTGCTGCCTGATGTATC/ 22 177 ELF1a R primer GGTGGCAACAGCAGCATTCA/ 20 178 Taqman VIC-ATGTTGTGCCTAAGGAC- 17 probe MGBNFQ/179

RNA analysis was conducted by Taqman real time PCR using a cucumber ELF1a assay for normalization of the values to correct for differences in sample concentration (see Table 32 for primers and Taqman probes sequences). Analysis on samples from fifteen days old cucumber leaves germinated from seeds treated with DND1 dsRNAs have demonstrated altered expression of the DND1 gene compared to control seeds treated with GFP dsRNA (see Table 32 for GFP dsRNA sequence and Table 33 and FIG. 62A for real time PCR analysis).

TABLE 33 Concentration of DND1 mRNA in 15 days old cucumber leaves treated with DND1 dsRNAs. Means and Std Deviations, Cs.DND1 % change Dunnett's from GFP fold p-value on Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mea

Lower 95% Upper 95% control change LOG 10 RQ Formulation_NI 19 0.806 0.157 0.036 0.730 0.881 3% 1.0 0.8571 T33776_GFP_NI 20 0.782 0.209 0.047 0.684 0.879 0% 1.0 1.0000 T33787_DND_NI 20 0.934 0.150 0.033 0.864 1.004 19% 1.2 0.0117 T33788_DND_NI 20 1.060 0.204 0.046 0.965 1.156 36% 1.4 <.0001

indicates data missing or illegible when filed

Comparisons with a control using Dunnett's Method, Control Group=GFP-1.

In another experiment, One hundred cucumber seeds were treated with dsRNA containing the cucumber DND1 transcribed sequence (Table 32, dsRNA #2 T33788) as described above. Treated seeds were plated on ¼MS plates for 3 days. Ten ml dry sand was added to each glass vial and seedlings were planted by tilting the vial and laying the seedling in the correct orientation so that the cotyledons are just above the sand and then tilting back to cover the radicles with sand. 3.3 ml water was added to each vial and the vials placed in racks under fluorescent light banks. 250 vermiform eggs or 300 J2 RKN were inoculated in each tube in 50 ul of deionized or spring water. Plants were watered as needed. Harvest of the cucumber plants was performed at 11 days after inoculation by washing sand off the roots. A percent gall rating of the roots was taken for each sample, demonstrating a 26% and 21% reduction in RKN galling when compared to control treatments with 0.1 mM EDTA and GFP dsRNA, respectively (FIG. 62B).

Example 36 Altered Expression of PMR5 mRNA in Cucumber Following Seed Treatment with PMR5 dsRNAs

PMR5 belongs to a family of plant-specific genes of unknown function. Mutations in the Arabidopsis gene PMR5, powdery mildew resistance, have pectin enriched cell walls and confer powdery mildew resistance (Vogel et al. 2004).

Cucumber seeds were treated with PMR5 dsRNAs (Table 34) as described in Example 35. Leaves germinated from treated seeds were analyzed as described in Example 35. An altered expression of the PMR5 gene was demonstrated in PMR5 treated seeds compared to GFP treated seeds (Table 35 and FIG. 63).

TABLE 34 dsRNAs of cucumber PMR5 and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) PMR5 dsRNA #1 GATCCTGAGTTCAACTGCCAAG 509 (T33789) CTTACGGCAGACCCGATTCAAA TTACCTCAAGTACCGTTGGCAG CCGCTCGATTGTGAGCTCCCAA GGTTCGATGGGGCTGAGTTTTT GATGAGAATGAGAGGAAGAACT GTGATGTTTGTTGGTGATTCAT TGGGGAGAAACCAATGGGAGTC ATTGATTTGTTTGATCGTGTCA TCTTCTCCTCAAACTCCTACTC AAATGACTAGAGGAGAACCTCT TTCAACCTTCAGATTCCTGGAA TATGAGTTAACTGTGTCCTATT ACAAAGCCCCGTATCTTGTGGA CATAGAGATAGAGAATGGGAAG AGAGTGTTGAAGCTGGAGGAGA TATCAATGAATGGAAATGCTTG GGTTGGAGCTGATGTTATTTCC TTCAACACTGGACATTGGTGGA GCCACACTGGCTCTCTACAAGG GTGGGATTACATGGAATCAGGA GGATCATACTATCAAGACATGG ATCGGTTGGGTGCAATGGAAAA GGC/180 dsRNA #2 GGCTCTCTACAAGGGTGGGATT 500 (T33790) ACATGGAATCAGGAGGATCATA CTATCAAGACATGGATCGGTTG GGTGCAATGGAAAAGGCTTTAA GAACATGGGCTGATTGGGTTGA GAAGAACATTGATGTCTCTAGA ACAAGGGTTTTCTTCCAAGCTA TCTCCCCCACACATTACAATCC ATCTGAATGGAACACGGGGACA GCATCGATGATGACATCAACGA AAAATTGTTATGGGGAAACGGC ACCAATGGGGGGGACGACGTAC CCGGGAGGGTACCCTATTCAAA TGAGGGTTGTGGATGAAGTGAT AAGGGAGATGAGGAAGCCAGTA TACTTATTGGACATAACAATGT TATCTGAGCTAAGAAAAGATGG ACACCCTTCCATTTATAGTGGT GATTTGAATCCTCAACAAAGGG CTAACCCAGATAGATCAGCGGA TTGTAGCCATTGGTGTCTTCCT GGCTTACCAGATACTTGGAACC AATTGTTTTATACTGC/181 F primer AGCTTCCTCAGCTTTGATTCTC 25 AGT/182 R primer GCGATTATGGTGGTCGCTGTT/ 21 183 Taqman 6FAM-TGAAGCACCATTACCG- 16 probe MGBNFQ/184

TABLE 35 Concentration of PMR5 mRNA in 15 days old cucumber leaves germinated from seeds treated with PMR5 dsRNAs. Means and Std Deviations, Cs.PMR5 % change Dunnett's from GFP fold p-value on Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mea

Lower 95% Upper 95% control change LOG10 RQ Formulation_NI 20 0.304 0.118 0.026 0.249 0.359 13% 1.1 0.6213 T33776_GFP_NI 20 0.268 0.119 0.027 0.212 0.323 0% 1.0 1.0000 T33789_PMR5_NI 18 0.604 0.233 0.055 0.488 0.721 126% 2.3 <.0001 T33790_PMR5_NI 19 0.536 0.279 0.064 0.401 0.670 100% 2.0 <.0001

indicates data missing or illegible when filed

Example 37 Altered Expression of TubG mRNA in Cucumber Following Seed Treatment with TubG dsRNAs

TubG encodes a γ-tubulin protein (Snustad, D. P., et al. 1992). Cucumber seeds were treated with TubG dsRNAs (Table 36) as described in Example 35. Leaves germinated from treated seeds were analyzed as described in Example 35. An altered expression of the TubG gene was demonstrated in leaves of treated seeds compared to GFP treated seeds (Table 37 and FIG. 64).

TABLE 36 dsRNAs of cucumber TubG and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) TubG dsRNA #1 GTGGGAACCAGATCGGAATGGA 512 (T33791)  GTTCTGGAAGCAGCTTTGCCTC GAGCATGGAATCAGCAAAGACG GCATTCTTGAAGATTTTGCTAC TCAGGGAGGTGACCGGAAAGAT GTATTCTTCTATCAAGCCGATG ATCAGCACTACATACCAAGAGC TTTACTTATTGACCTGGAGCCC AGGGTCATTAATGGTATCCAGA ACAGTGAATATCGAAATCTCTA CAACCACGAGAACATCTTTGTT TCAGATCATGGAGGTGGTGCTG GAAATAACTGGGCCAGTGGATA TCATCAGGGAAAGGGCGTTGAA GAGGATATCATGGACATGATTG ACAGAGAAGCAGATGGAAGCGA TAGCCTTGAGGGTTTTGTTCTA TGCCACTCAATTGCTGGAGGGA CAGGATCGGGCATGGGTTCATA TCTTCTGGAGACTCTGAATGAT CGCTACAGCAAAAAACTGGTTC AGACGTACAGTGTTTTTCCTAA TCAGATGGAAACAAGTGATGTT GTAGTC/185 dsRNA #2 GCCTTACAACTCACTTTTGACT 512 (T33792) TTAAAGCGACTAACACTCAATG CTGATTGTGTTGTTGTTCTTGA TAATACTGCCCTAAATAGAATA GCTGTAGAACGCCTTCATCTAT CAAATCCAACCTTTGCACAAAC AAACTCCTTAGTGTCGACTGTA ATGTCAGCTAGCACAACCACTT TGAGATACCCAGGATATATGAA CAATGACTTGGTTGGACTCTTG GCCTCTCTAATTCCAACACCAA GATGCCATTTTCTAATGACAGG ATACACACCACTCACGGTTGAG CGCCAGGCTAATGTGATAAGGA AAACCACTGTTCTTGATGTCAT GAGAAGACTTCTCCAGACAAAA AATATTATGGTCTCCTCGTATG CTCGAACAAAAGAAGCTAGTCA AGCAAAATACATATCAATATTG AATATCATACAGGGAGAAGTGG ACCCTACACAGGTTCATGAAAG TTTGCAGAGAATACGTGAAAGA AAGCTGGTGAATTTTATTGAGT GGGGGC/186 F primer  GGGTCAGTGGTCTTATGTTAGC/ 22 187 R primer  TTCTCAACTTCTCATACTGGCT 23 C/188 Taqman 6FAM-AGTATCCGGCATCTTTT 27 probe CAGCAAGTGT-3IABkFQ/189

TABLE 37 Concentration of TubG mRNA in 15 days old cucumber leaves germinated from seeds treated with TubG dsRNAs. Means and Std Deviations, Cs.TubG % change Dunnett's from GFP fold p-value on Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mea

Lower 95% Upper 95% control change LOG10 RQ Formulation_NI 20 0.562 0.215 0.048 0.462 0.663 18% 1.2 0.4562 T33776_GFP_NI 20 0.478 0.177 0.040 0.395 0.561 0% 1.0 1.0000 T33791_TubG_NI 20 1.252 0.493 0.110 1.021 1.483 162% 2.6 <.0001 T33792_TubG_NI 18 1.117 0.360 0.085 0.938 1.297 134% 2.3 <.0001

indicates data missing or illegible when filed

Example 38 Altered Expression of DND1 mRNA in Tomato Following Seed Treatment with DND1 dsRNAs

Microtom variety tomato seeds were treated with DND1 dsRNAs (Table 38) as described in Example 35 (except for using 2 ml Eppendorf tube instead of a 50 ml Conical tube in the dsRNA incubation step). RNA analysis was conducted by Taqman real time PCR using a tomato TIP41 assay for normalization of the values to correct for differences in sample concentration (see Table 38 for primers and Taqman probes sequences). An altered expression of the DND1 gene was demonstrated in leaves of treated seeds compared to GFP treated seeds (Table 39 and FIG. 65).

TABLE 38 dsRNAs of tomato DND1 and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) DND1 dsRNA #1  GATGACGACATCAATCCAATCT 500 (T33781)  CAAATTCCATTGAATGTTATGC ATGTACTCAAGTTGGCGTCCCT GTTTTCCACTCCACCAGTTGCG ATGGAGCTAACCAACCGGAGTG GGAAGCTTCAGCCGGTTCTTCT CTAGTTCCAATTCAAAACCGGA CGGATTCAAAAACCGGAAAATC CCGGTCCAGTCGCAGCCGGCAC ACATCGGGGCCGTTCGGGCGTG TATTAGACCCTCGAAGCAAGCG CGTGCAGAGATGGAACCGAATG ATTTTATTGGCACGTGGCATGG CTTTAGCCGTTGATCCTCTATT CTTTTACGCCTTATCCATCGGC CGCGGTGGATCGCCGTGTTTGT ACATGGACGGCAGCCTGGCGGC TATCGTCACCGTGATTCGGACT AGCGTCGACGCCGTGCACCTCT TCCATTTGTGGTTGCAGTTTCG TTTGGCTTACGTGTCGAGAGAA TCGCTGGTGGTTGGTTGTGGGA AACTCGTGTGGGATGC/24 dsRNA #2  GATTTTGGTTCGATGCTTTTGT 501 (T33782)  CATCCTTCCCGTTCCACAGGCT GTATTCTGGCTGGTGGTTCCAA AACTAATAAGAGAAGAGCAGAT AAAGCTTATAATGACGATCCTT TTATTAATGTTCTTGTTCCAGT TCCTTCCCAAAGTTTATCACTG TATAAGCTTAATGAGAAGGATG CAAAAGGTTACAGGATATATTT TTGGTACCATCTGGTGGGGATT TGGACTTAATCTCATTGCTTAT TTTATTGCTTCTCATGTTGCTG GGGGATGCTGGTATGTTCTTGC AATACAAAGAGTGGCTTCATGT CTAAGGCAGCAGTGTGAGCGCA ACCCTTCGTGTAATCTATCTTT GTCTTGCTCAGAGGAGGTGTGT TATCAGTTTCTGTTGCCAACAG GAACTGTGGGAAATCCATGTGC TGGGAACTCAACAACAGTGACC AGGAAGCCAATGTGTTTGGATG TCAATGGACCATTTCCATATGG GATATACCAATGGGCAC/25 F primer CTCACCAAGACGTCCGCTTCT/ 21 26 R primer GGTTGAACTGATCTTCGTCGGA 24 AT/27 Taqman 6FAM-CTCTCAAAGTGGTTTGG 18 probe C-MGBNFQ/28 TIP41 F primer AACAGGTGGTGCTCGACTATGA 24 CT/29 R primer TGCTTTCGACAGTTTCACTTCC 23 A/30 Taqman VIC-ACCTTCACAACACCTTAC 19 probe T-MGBNFQ/31

TABLE 39 Concentration of DND1 mRNA in 15 days old tomato leaves germinated from seeds treated with DND1 dsRNAs. Means and Std Deviations, Sl.DND1 % change Dunnett's from GFP fold p-value on Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mea

Lower 95% Upper 95% control change LOG10 RQ Formulation_NI 19 1.078 0.265 0.061 0.950 1.205 23% 1.2 0.0836 T33776_GFP_NI 19 0.879 0.303 0.070 0.733 1.025 0% 1.0 1 T33781_DND1_NI 17 0.599 0.213 0.052 0.489 0.709 −32% 0.7 0.0018 T33782_DND1_NI 17 0.501 0.164 0.040 0.417 0.586 −43% 0.6 <.0001

indicates data missing or illegible when filed

Example 39 Altered Expression of PMR5 mRNA in Tomato Following Seed Treatment with PMR5 dsRNAs

Tomato seeds were treated with PMR5 dsRNAs (Table 40) as described in Example 35 and 39. Leaves germinated from treated seeds were analyzed as described in Example 38. An altered expression of the PMR5 gene was demonstrated in leaves of treated seeds compared to GFP treated seeds (Table 41 and FIG. 66).

TABLE 40 dsRNAs of tomato PMR5 and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) PMR5 dsRNA #1 GTAGCTTTATCTGTTATATTAT 499 (T33783) TAAGGAATCACCATAATAATAA CAATAATTATAATAACCCAAAT CACAGAAACCCAATTCTTCAAG GAAATCAAACTTCATGTTCTCT CTTTATAGGTAGTTGGGTTTAC GATGAAACTTACCCATTTTACC AATCAGCTTCTTGCCCCGCCGT CGATCCACAGTTCAACTGTCAA CTCTACGGCCGACCCGATACGG AATACCTAAAGTATCGATGGAA ACCGGCGAACTGTGAGCTACCC AGGTTTAATGGGCTTGAGTTTC TGTTGAAAATGAAAGGGAAAAC AGTGATGTTTGTGGGTGATTCA TTAGGCCGGGATCAGTGGGAGT CGTTGATTTGTATGATTTCAGC TGATGTACCTAAAGCTCAAACG CAGATGTCGAGGCTTTACCCTA TTTCAACTTTCAAGTTCCTGGA TTACGGAGTTGCTATTTCATAT TACAAAGCACCATATCTAGTGG ACATAGACACTGTAC/32 dsRNA #2 GATGTATTATCTTTTAATACTG 501 (T33784) GTCATTGGTGGACTCACAAAGG TCCTCTTCAAGGGTGGGACAAC GTAGAAGCAGGAGGGACAATGT ATGAAGACATGGATCCACTAAT TGCAATGGAAAAAGGGCTAAGA ACGTGGGCAAGATGGGTTGATA CCAATATTGACAGAAGTAGAAC CAGACTCTTCTTTCAGGGCATT TCACCTACGCACTACAATCCGA GTGAATGGAACGCGGGTGCATC AACAGGGAGTTGTTACGGGGAG ACAATCCCCGTAACAACCACCC CTATGACGAGCACGTACCCGGG TCCCGATTTGGATCAATCAAAT GTGATCCAAAAAGTTATAAGAG AAATGGACAATCCACCTTTCTT GCTAGACATAACATTGTTATCA ACAATGAGGAAAGATGCACATC CATCTATTTACAGTGGTGATCT CAATTCTCAACAAAGAATTAAC CCTAACAAACCTGATTGTAGCC ATTGGTGTCTGCCTGGC/33 F primer CTCTTTCCTTAACCCTTTTTTA 30 AATTTCTC/34 R primer AGAAGAAGACATAATGTAGTTG 31 AAGAACAAG/35 Taqman 6FAM-CAAATGGAGCTTCTCTC- 17 probe MGBNFQ/36

TABLE 41 Concentration of PMR5 mRNA in 15 days old tomato leaves germinated from seeds treated with PMR5 dsRNAs. Means and Std Deviations, Sl.PMR5 % change Dunnett's from GFP fold p-value on Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mea

Lower 95% Upper 95% control change LOG10 RQ Formulation_NI 19 0.295 0.223 0.051 0.188 0.402 54% 1.5 0.3817 T33776_GFP_NI 19 0.192 0.060 0.014 0.163 0.221 0% 1.0 1.0000 T33783_PMR5_NI 10 0.512 0.427 0.135 0.206 0.817 167% 2.7 0.0118 T33784_PMR5_NI 11 0.479 0.368 0.111 0.232 0.727 150% 2.5 0.0118

indicates data missing or illegible when filed

Example 40 Altered Expression of MLO mRNA in Tomato Following Seed Treatment with MLO dsRNAs

MLO, mildew resistance locus O protein encodes a plant-specific membrane protein and been demonstrated to play a role in powdery mildew resistance in Arabidopsis, barley and tomato (Bai et. Al 2007). Tomato seeds were treated with MLO dsRNAs (Table 42) as described in Examples 35 and 38. Leaves germinated from treated seeds were analyzed as described in Example 38. An altered expression of the MLO gene was demonstrated in leaves of treated seeds compared to GFP treated seeds (Table 43 and FIG. 67).

TABLE 42 dsRNAs of tomato MLO and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) MLO dsRNA #1  GCACTTGAAAAGATCAAAGCTG 505 (T33779)  AACTTATGCTGTTGGGATTCTT ATCACTGTTGTTGACAGTGTTG CAAGATCCAGTTTCTAACTTAT GTGTCCCCAAGAGTGTTGGTTA TTCATGGCATCCTTGTATGGCA AAGGAAGATGCCAAGTCTGAGT ATGATGACCCTTGTCTACCAAA GGGAAAAGTGCAATTTGCATCT TCATATGCAATACACCAGCTCC ATATCTTCATCTTTGTATTGGC AGTTGCTCATGTATTGTACTGT ATAGCAACTTTTGCTTTGGGCA GGCTAAAGATGAGAAAATGGAG GGCATGGGAGGATGAAACAAAA ACAATGGAGTACCAATTCTACA ACGACCCTGAGAGATTCAGATT TGCAAGGGAGACCTCGTTTGGA CGTAGGCATTTGCATTTCTGGA GCAAGTCCCCCGTGTTGCTCTC GATAGTTTGTTTCTTTCGGCAA TTCTTCTCATCAGTTGCAAAAG TTGACTATTTAACCCTTAGAC/ 37 dsRNA #2 GGCACATTTAACTCCACAAAAT (T33780) CAAAATAATTTTGATTTTCAAT 500 TATACATTAACAGAGCAGTTGA CAAAGACTTCAAAGTTGTTGTT GGAATAAGTCCTGCATTATGGC TCTTCACGGTGCTATATTTTCT GACTACTACCGATCGATTGTAC TCGTATCTTTGGGTGCCATTTA TCCCACTTGTAATAATATTGCT AGTTGGCACAAAACTTCAAATG ATCATAACAGAAATGGGAGTAA GGATTTCAGAAAGGGGAGACAT AGTAAAAGGTGTACCTGTGGTG GAGACTGGTGACCATCTTTTCT GGTTTAATCGCCCTGCCCTTGT CCTATTCTTGATTAACTTTGTA CTCTTTCAGAATGCGTTTCAAG TTGCTTTCTTTTTTTGGAGTTG GTGGAAATTTGGTTTCCCATCT TGCTTTCATAAGAATGCTGCAG ACCTAGCCATAAGGCTAACCAT GGGGGTGATCATACAGGTCCAT TGCAGCTATGTGACTC/38 F primer GCAATTGCTGTGGTTTGCTTCA/ 22 39 R primer TTTCCAGTAACCACTCTCCAAT 25 GTG/40 Taqman 6FAM-CTTGCTCGCTATTTCTA- 17 probe MGBNFQ/41

TABLE 43 Concentration of MLO mRNA in 15 days old tomato leaves germinated from seeds treated with MLO dsRNAs. Means and Std Deviations, Sl.MLO % change Dunnett's from GFP fold p-value on Treatment Number Mean RQ Std Dev Std Err Mea

Lower 95% Upper 95% control change LOG10 RQ Formulation_NI 19 2.098 0.441 0.101 1.885 2.311 −2% 1.0 0.9964 T33776_GFP_NI 19 2.151 0.327 0.075 1.994 2.309 0% 1.0 1.0000 T33779_MLO_NI 17 0.863 0.425 0.103 0.645 1.082 −60% 0.4 <.0001 T33780_MLO_NI 17 0.895 0.434 0.105 0.672 1.118 −58% 0.4 <.0001

indicates data missing or illegible when filed

Example 41 Reduction in Tomato Powdery Mildew Disease and Modulation of mRNA Expression Following Seed Treatment with dsRNAs

Bi1 is a negative regulator of programmed cell death. Microtom tomato seeds were treated with dsRNAs containing the tomato Bi1 (Table 44, dsRNA #2) and PMR5 (Table 40, dsRNA #1) dsNAs as described Examples 35 and 38.

TABLE 44 Tomato Bil dsRNAs. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) Bi1 dsRNA #1 GTGCTTTAGTGGCATCGGCTGC 501 (T33777) TGGGGCTTACCTTCACATTCTA TGGAATATCGGTGGCCTCCTCA CAACAATGGCTTGCATGGGAAG CATGGTGTGGCTTCTCTCAGCT CCTCCTTATCAAGAGCAAAAAA GGGTGGCTCTTCTGATGGCAGC TGCACTTTTTGAAGGCGCCTCT ATTGGTCCTCTGATTGAGCTGG GCATTAACTTCGATCCAAGCAT TGTGTTTGGCGCTTTTGTAGGT TGTGCTGTGGTTTTTGGTTGCT TCTCAGCTGCTGCCATGTTGGC AAGGCGCAGGGAGTACTTGTAC CTCGGGGGCCTTCTTTCATCTG GCGTCTCCCTTCTCTTCTGGTT GCACTTTGCATCCTCCATTTTT GGTGGTTCCATGGCTGTTTTCA AGTTTGAGTTGTATTTTGGACT CTTGGTGTTTGTGGGCTACATC GTCTTTGACACCCAAGAAATTA TTGAGAAGGCTCACTTGGGTGA TATGGATTACGTTAAGC/42 dsRNA #2 GCCAGATCTCACCTCTCGTTCA 500 (T33778) AACTCATCTCAAGCAGGTGTAC CTTACGCTATGCTGTGCTTTAG TGGCATCGGCTGCTGGGGCTTA CCTTCACATTCTATGGAATATC GGTGGCCTCCTCACAACAATGG CTTGCATGGGAAGCATGGTGTG GCTTCTCTCAGCTCCTCCTTAT CAAGAGCAAAAAAGGGTGGCTC TTCTGATGGCAGCTGCACTTTT TGAAGGCGCCTCTATTGGTCCT CTGATTGAGCTGGGCATTAACT TCGATCCAAGCATTGTGTTTGG CGCTTTTGTAGGTTGTGCTGTG GTTTTTGGTTGCTTCTCAGCTG CTGCCATGTTGGCAAGGCGCAG GGAGTACTTGTACCTCGGGGGC CTTCTTTCATCTGGCGTCTCCC TTCTCTTCTGGTTGCACTTTGC ATCCTCCATTTTTGGTGGTTCC ATGGCTGTTTTCAAGTTTGAGT TGTATTTTGGACTCTTGGTGTT TGTGGGCTACATCGTC/43

Seeds treated with dsRNA were planted in M200 soil with fertilizer (Hummerts) and placed in a growth chamber. One tomato seed is planted per pot, approximately ¼″ into the soil and the top of the soil was drenched with water. The growth chamber settings were at 26/24 C, 16 hr light cycle, 50% humidity, light intensity 3 and watered 4×/week by automated subirrigation. Fourteen days after planting pots were organized by similar size. The number of reps was 5 plants/treatment. On day 15 plants were randomized and shifted to the following growth chamber conditions: 22/20 C, 16 hr light cycle, 70% humidity, light intensity 3 and watered M,W,F. Infection with Tomato Powdery Mildew (Oidium neolycopersici) was as follows:

-   1. 10 μl Tween-20 were mixed in 200 ml of d.i. H2O in a 250 ml     flask. -   2. About 20-25 leaves from highly infected tomato stock plants were     cut and placed into a second flask. Approximately 100-200 ml of     Tween 20 solution were added to the leaves until the mildew goes     into solution. This was accomplished by shaking the flask. The     solution was then transferred into the spray bottle, the nozzle     inserted and an even spray on the plants was accomplished. Trays     were rotated 4× during spraying.

Eight days post-infection samples were taken for qPCR. PMR5 (Table 40, dsRNA #1) treated plants showed a significant up-regulation of PMR5 expression compare to plants treated with GFP and 0.1 mM EDTA (Formulation) as controls (Table 45).

TABLE 45 Concentration of PMR5 mRNA in 21 days old tomato leaves germinated from seeds treated with PMR5 dsRNA and infected with Powdery Mildew disease. % change Dunnett's Std from p-value on Mean Std Err Lower Upper GFP fold LOG10 Treatment Number RQ Dev Mean 95% 95% control change RQ Formulation_PM 18 0.392 0.077 0.018 0.354 0.430 −7% 0.9 0.9246 T33776_GFP_PM 18 0.421 0.105 0.025 0.369 0.474 0% 1.0 1.0000 T33783_PMR5_PM 16 0.734 0.426 0.106 0.507 0.961 74% 1.7 0.0071

Fourteen days post-infection disease development was scored for the percentage of leaf area covered with powdery mildew. Ratings were set at 0, 10, 25 and 50% infection. Data was analyzed using Anova Single Factor Analysis (α=0.1). The ½ LSD was calculated and custom error bars were created for the graphs. Treatment averages are used to graph a percent disease reduction compared to the GFP control. This analysis demonstrated a 23% reduction in disease compared with GFP treated tomato seeds (p-value<0.1, FIG. 68).

Example 42 Modulation of PHYA mRNA Expression in Soy Following Seed Treatment with dsRNAs

Soybean Phytochrome A (PHYA) genes E3 and E4 were targeted by treating seeds with dsRNAs containing sequences from those genes. PHYAE3 and PHYAE4 dsRNA sequences (Table 46) were synthesized in vitro using a convergent T7 RNA polymerase method. dsRNAs for the two genes were combined and brought to a final concentration of 50 μg/ml total nucleic acid in 0.1 mM EDTA. Fifteen soy (Williams 82) seeds were incubated in 7.5 ml of this dsRNA solution or in dsRNA from a GUS control in a 15 ml tube in the dark at 15 C, with gentle oscillation, for 24 hours. After treatment, seeds were transferred to seed germination boxes (15 seed per box) containing moistened filter paper and germinated in a growth chamber set at 25 C in the dark.

Shoot tissues, excluding cotyledons, were harvested from the germinating seeds in the germination boxes 5 days after treatment for RNA analysis. RNA analysis was conducted by Taqman, using the Gm.ref16 gene for normalization of the values to correct for differences in sample concentration (Table 46). RQ values were transformed to log10 for analysis after outlier removal.

Treatment of seeds with PHYAE3 and PHYAE4 dsRNAs resulted in increased PHYAE3 expression in seedling shoots so that PHYAE3 mRNA levels were 1.7 those of GUS control values (Table 47 and FIG. 69).

TABLE 46 Soy PHYAE3 and PHYAE4 dsRNAs and primers used for real-time PCR. Sequence/ Length Target SEQ ID NO: (nt) PHYAE3 dsRNA TCAAGAAGATGTTGGACATGG 513 CATTGCAGGGTGAGGAAGAGA GAAATGTCCAATTTGAGATCC AAACACATCATATGAAGATTG ATTCTGGTCCCATCAGCTTGG TAGTTAATGCTTGTGCAAGCA GGGATCTTCAAGATAATGTTG TGGGAGTTTGTTTTCTGGCAC AAGATATAACTGCTCAGAAAA CAATGATGGACAAATTCACCC GAATTGAAGGTGACTACAAGG CAATTGTACAGAACCCAAACC CATTGATCCCTCCAATATTTG GCACAGATGAATTTGGTTGGT GTTGTGAATGGAATTCAGCTA TGGCAAAATTAACTGGATGGA AGCGAGAGGAGGTAATGGATA AAATGCTTTTAGGAGAGGTTT TCGGGACCCAAATAGCTTGTT GTCGCCTAAGGAATCATGAAG CTGTTGTTAACTTTAGCATTG TACTTAATACAGCCATGGCTG GTTTGGAAACAGAGAAGGTTC CTTTTGGTTTCTTTGCTCGTG ATGGAAAGC/190 Forward TCCCTCTTAGGTATGCTTGTC 25 primer AATT/191 Reverse TCTCTAGCTCTTTGCTCACAT 25 primer GAAC/192 Taqman 6FAM-CTGGCTCAAGTATTTG- 16 probe MGBNFQ/193 PHYAE4 dsRNA TCAAGAAGATGCTTAACTTAG 525 CACTGCTAGGTGAAGAAGAGA AGAATGTCCAATTTGAGATCA AAACACATGGGTCTAAGATGG ATTCTGGTCCTATTAGTTTAG TAGTAAATGCTTGCGCAAGCA GGGATCTTCGAGATAATGTTG TTGGGGTTTGTTTTGTGGCCC ATGATATAACTGCTCAGAAGA ATGTCATGGACAAATTTACGC GTATTGAAGGTGATTACAAGG CAATTGTACAGAACCGCAATC CATTAATCCCTCCTATATTTG GCACAGATGAATTTGGCTGGT GTTGTGAGTGGAATCCAGCTA TGACGAAGTTAACTGGATGGA AGCGAGAGGAGGTGATGGATA AAATGCTTTTGGGAGAGCTTT TTGGCACCCATATGGCTGCTT GTCGCCTAAAGAATCAAGAAG CTTTTGTTAATTTGGGTGTTG TACTTAATAAAGCCATGACTG GTTTGGAAACAGAGAAGGTTC CTTTTGGTTTCTTTGCTCGGA ATGGCAAGTATGTGGAATGCC/ 194 Gm.ref16 CAAGGTTATGAAAATTATGGG 26 TATGC/195 CCCGGATAACTGCCATACATG/ 21 196 VIC-CTGCTGCTGGACAGGAT 21 CCCA-TAMRA/197

TABLE 47 mRNA concentrations for PHYA genes in 1-week soy seedling shoot tissue. Dunnett's p value Std for RQ Mean Std Err Lower Upper fold log 10 Treatment Assay Number RQ Dev Mean 95% 95% change analysis GUS PHYAE3 15 0.045 0.012 0.003 0.038 0.052 1 PHYAE3E4 PHYAE3 15 0.076 0.047 0.012 0.050 0.101 1.7 0.0141

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting. 

1. A method of introducing naked dsRNA into a seed, the method comprising contacting the seed with the naked dsRNA under conditions which allow penetration of the dsRNA into the seed, thereby introducing the dsRNA into the seed.
 2. An isolated seed, a plant, or a plant part comprising an exogenous naked dsRNA, wherein the seed is devoid of a heterologous promoter for driving expression of said dsRNA in a plant. 3.-8. (canceled)
 9. A seed containing device comprising a plurality of the seed of claim
 2. 10. A sown field comprising a plurality of seeds of claim
 2. 11. A method of producing a plant, the method comprising: (a) providing the seeds of claim 2; and (b) germinating the seed so as to produce the plant.
 12. A method of modulating gene expression, the method comprising: (a) contacting a seed of a plant with a naked dsRNA, under conditions which allow penetration of the dsRNA into the seed, thereby introducing the dsRNA into the seed, wherein said naked dsRNA is designed for down regulating expression of a gene of the plant; and optionally (b) generating a plant of the seed.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said gene expression is associated with tolerance of the plant to abiotic or biotic stress.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising growing said plant under abiotic or biotic stress following said generating.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said naked dsRNA is designed for down regulating expression of a gene of the plant.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said naked dsRNA is designed for down regulating expression of a gene of a viral pathogen.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein said penetration is to an endosperm and alternatively or additionally an embryo of said seed. 20.-25. (canceled)
 26. The method of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA comprises siRNA. 27.-28. (canceled)
 29. The method of claim 1, further comprising priming the seed prior to said contacting.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said priming is effected by: (i) washing the seed prior to said contacting; and (ii) drying the seed following step (i). 31.-34. (canceled)
 35. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is effected in a presence of the naked dsRNA at a final concentration of 0.1-100 μg/μl.
 36. (canceled)
 37. The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the seed with an agent selected from the group consisting of a pesticide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a fertilizer, a coating agent and a coloring agent following said contacting. 38.-39. (canceled)
 40. The method of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA is for downregulating expression of a coding gene.
 41. (canceled)
 42. The method of claim 1, wherein the seed is of the Viridiplantae super-family.
 43. (canceled)
 44. The method of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the naked dsRNA is adjusted according to a parameter selected from the group consisting of, seed size, seed weight, seed volume, seed surface area, seed density and seed permeability.
 45. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is effected prior to breaking of seed dormancy and embryo emergence. 46.-49. (canceled) 